His attempt to limit himself to the “positive agenda” which he had previously announced, downgrading issues of the rule of law and human rights, provoked the criticism of political opponents as well as partners in Ankara.
German media are also criticizing, pointing out that the only public disagreement between Friedrich Merz and the Turkish president concerned Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip.
“European values must be defended in talks with difficult partners”
“Whoever talks about European prospects in Ankara cannot be silent about the reality of human rights in the country,” Serdar Yüksel, an MP from the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and chairman of the German-Turkish parliamentary group, told Focus magazine.
“Silence for diplomatic reasons may be convenient, but it does not contribute to a genuine European perspective on Turkey,” Mr. Yüksel added, stressing that “when Friedrich Merz visits Turkey, promises closer ties with the EU, but does not say a word about political prisoners, limited freedom of the press or democratic opposition figures like Ekrem Imamoglu, then that sends the wrong message.” message, because Europe is more than a security policy or an economic project and European values must be defended in talks with difficult partners”. The social democratic politician also stressed that the democratic forces under pressure in Turkey expect a “clear stance” from Germany and Europe.
The Greens’ representative on human rights issues and vice-chairman of the German-Turkish parliamentary group Max Lukes criticized the chancellor, noting that he “either ignores the whole reality in Turkey, or enjoys being arbitrarily silenced”. Friedrich Merz “says nothing about the fact that President Erdogan has been using his politicized judiciary to suppress his own democratic opposition for years,” the MP continued.
The German media, however, highlight mainly the chancellor’s attempt to maintain the “positive agenda” of bilateral relations and to cultivate a closer and harmonious relationship with the “strategic partner”, Turkey.
ARD: Concern about the rule of law in Turkey
“Chancellor Friedrich Merz is gaining more and more experience with difficult international interlocutors. The really important players in current crises and wars are authoritarians – or presidents who have little interest in democracy and the rule of law. This category also applies to the current host, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The German chancellor is trying to take a realistic view. At the joint press conference, Mertz pointed to the geopolitical crises being shaped by international powers. This requires closer strategic partnerships for Germany and according to (Friedrich) Merz, there is no way around Turkey. The two countries are closely linked socially and economically and that is the foundation. In addition, they have a common position in NATO in terms of security policy, the chancellor said,” points out in its report from Turkey the first channel of the German public television ARD, in which it is also underlined that Mr. Merz had received an “urgent demand” from inside Germany to publicly report on the human rights situation in Turkey.
“Mr. Mertz did so briefly when asked at the press conference. He explained that there are situations in Turkey that do not correspond to our understanding of the rule of law. In talks with President Erdogan, he expressed concern about the independence of the judiciary, Mr. Mertz said, adding that the issue was being discussed, but did not elaborate.
Der Spiegel: Stubborn Erdogan
“Mertz wanted to be kind, but Erdogan did not thank him for it,” Der Spiegel magazine points out in its headline and reports that “Friedrich Merz praised the Turkish president as much as possible, but Erdogan remained stubborn.” The Turkish president complained about the “xenophobia of the Germans”, the delay in EU membership and Israel’s bombing of Gaza and, when asked to speak, Friedrich Merz left much of this unanswered, refusing to elaborate. After all, he traveled to Ankara on a mission: this is supposed to be a visit with friends. He wants to open a new chapter in German-Turkish relations, a harmonious chapter. So he prefers to hold back, as much as possible,” describes Spiegel, pointing out at the same time whether this tactic will be successful.
“The question is whether this tactic will ultimately be successful. If the German government is really getting closer to its goal of tying a geopolitically empowered Turkey more closely with it. After this day in Ankara, one has to say: probably not,” the magazine writes and interprets the shorter than planned duration of the working lunch as a sign of tension between the two leaders in their one-on-one meeting. “This initial visit did not go as well as Mertz had hoped. But the chancellor should now have a better impression of the man he is dealing with in Ankara,” the magazine said.
The Chancellor would like to have Turkey as a partner. During his inaugural visit to Ankara, Friedrich Merz praised the Turkish president as much as he could. But he is stubborn.
— DER SPIEGEL (@derspiegel)
Handelsblatt: Open Points of Disagreement
“Mertz seeks strategic cooperation with Turkey,” writes Handelsblatt in the headline of its response and notes that “during his visit to Turkey, the German chancellor focused on harmony, but at the press conference, open points of disagreement were revealed.” Tayyip Erdoğan “remains a difficult partner and this became clear at the latest at the press conference,” the financial newspaper characteristically writes.
“How Friedrich Merz tries to like an authoritarian leader”, is the title of the Süddeutsche Zeitung article, which reveals, among other things, that the chancellor was accompanied by his wife Charlotte, who had been invited by Emine Erdogan. “Friedrich Merz’s associates seem to have hoped that the family atmosphere this would bring to the trip would have a positive impact on the atmosphere of the visit. The president, in turn, could assume that the visitor from Berlin did not come to upset him,” the newspaper comments.
The Turkish president is needed for peace in Gaza and Ukraine. The Chancellor brings many wishes with him to his inaugural visit to Ankara – and so does his wife, reports
— Süddeutsche Zeitung (@SZ)
BILD: Brave clarity Mertz
“Germans and Turks, Merz and Erdogan, are we now friends again?”, is the headline in BILD, which describes the points of disagreement between the two leaders, but also the chancellor’s clear willingness to build a close relationship with the Turkish president, and in her commentary praises Mr. Merz in particular for his stance on Israel. “The chancellor wanted to make a good impression during his opening visit to Ankara. Germany needs Turkey on its side: militarily as a NATO partner, economically – but also to contain the migration crisis. But after Turkish President Erdogan, in Mertz’s presence, once again accused Israel of “genocide” in Gaza and launched a frenzied hate attack against the Jewish state, all tactical considerations took a back seat. The chancellor chose exactly the right words. Even in the difficult environment, he said nothing but the truth”, writes BILD and speaks of “courageous clarity, impressive and worthy of a German chancellor”.
WELT also refers to the two leaders’ different views on Gaza, noting that the chancellor wanted to deepen ties with Turkey, but “this failed, as he and Erdogan clashed over the issues of Gaza and Turkey’s accession to the EU, while the Turkish president also highlighted the growing hostility of Germans to Muslims.”
Commenting on WELT TV, the newspaper’s columnist and former political prisoner in Turkey, Deniz Yucel, with an eye mainly on Gaza and inside Turkey, says that if he had to sum up the press conference in one sentence, it would be “Erdogan is getting away with everything” and argues that this attitude on the part of Germany “almost crosses the line of complicity”.
When it comes to Gaza, Merz and Erdogan clash
— WORLD (@welt)
taz speaks of a “euphoric” description of the chancellor’s intentions for a new policy towards Turkey and points out that “even serious differences of opinion, especially on Israel, did not deter Mertz from his flirtation with Erdogan”.
