March 16, 2017•Update: March 16, 2017
By Ali Kemal Akan
ELAZIG, Turkey
The increased support for far-right politician Geert Wilders in the recent Dutch general election is a “matter of concern”, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said on Thursday.
Kurtulmus told reporters in the eastern Turkish city of Elazig that Wilders’s performance was the latest example of increasing right-wing populism across Europe.
On Wednesday, the Dutch went to the polls to elect a new government amid a diplomatic row with Ankara over Turkish ministers’ visits to the European country.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte appears set for a third term as his center-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy won the largest share of seats in parliament, 33 out of 150, down from 41 in the 2012 polls.
Rutte’s performance will likely be enough to beat Wilders into second place despite increased support for the latter’s anti-immigrant and anti-Islamic Party for Freedom.
Kurtulmus said despite Rutte’s success, the rise in support for Wilders was a matter of concern for the Netherlands.
He also said he hoped the country would form a government soon as the election result suggested the Netherlands would go through a tough negotiation process to form a coalition administration.
Ankara expects some concrete steps from the Dutch government to reset relations with Turkey.
On Saturday, the Dutch authorities blocked Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Family Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya from holding events in Rotterdam.
Protesting Turkish nationals were dispersed by police using batons, dogs and water cannon.
- Expat voting in Germany
Kurtulmus also referred to Germany’s “conditional” approval of Turkey’s official request to open polling stations in time for the April 16 referendum on constitutional changes.
He urged the German government to deal with Turkish officials during the voting process while criticizing Berlin's “conditional approval”.
“What is the meaning of 'conditional approval'?... Of course, our citizens living there will cast their vote,” he said.
Tensions between Turkey and Germany have increased recently due to the decision of some German local authorities to cancel planned campaign rallies by Turkish ministers who favor constitutional change for a transition to a presidential system.
Although Chancellor Angela Merkel’s federal government has distanced itself from the decisions made by local authorities, Turkish politicians have accused Berlin of carrying out a covert and systematic campaign to obstruct their rallies, and of favoring the No campaign.
The cancellation of referendum rallies drew the ire of Turkey, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan comparing the move to Nazi-era practices.
Nearly three million Turkish migrants live in Germany and around half are eligible to vote in the referendum on constitutional reforms, which include changes to an executive presidency.
Turkish citizens will cast their votes there at nine consulates and four other polling stations between March 27 and April 9.
