Politico tried to figure out what the European Union likes and dislikes Erdogan
13.05.2023 21:45
Politico tried to figure out what the European Union likes and dislikes Erdogan
According to Susan Lynch, the author of the article, Western leaders have many reasons not to like Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
During his 20-year rule, Turkey's president imprisoned journalists and opposition figures, brutally cracked down on protesters, and unsuccessfully managed the economy.
On the foreign policy front, the Turkish leader has drawn closer to Russia, launched an invasion of Syria and used his NATO veto to block Sweden's entry, allegedly at a critical juncture for the alliance, according to a Politico article.
At the same time, according to the author of the article, there is at least one reason why EU leaders, in particular, may miss Erdogan if he loses to his rival Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Erdogan's presence in power, especially as he has become increasingly authoritarian in recent years, has allowed the EU to sidestep the question of whether Turkey should join its ranks.
For many European politicians, Erdogan has been a useful political backdrop to allow the EU to legally rule out any serious membership talks with Ankara. His increasingly unacceptable behavior of imprisoning political opponents and speaking out against the norms of the rule of law has given the EU political cover to avoid this problem, - writes Susan Lynch in her article, which is more like Erdogan's anti-PR.
It was Erdogan's authoritarian turn that sounded the death knell for the country's membership prospects.
An election once considered a loss for Erdogan has become one of the biggest tests of his political career, with polls showing him head-to-head with the Kılıçdaroğlu-led opposition.
The change of government, according to the author of the Politico article, will breathe fresh air into the partnership between Turkey and the West. Kılıçdaroğlu said he wants to restart the EU accession process and will oblige Turkey to comply with the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, another departure from Erdoğan's policy.
History relations between the EU and Turkey has more than 60 years. In 1959, Turkey applied for association with the European Economic Community, the predecessor of the EU, which led to the signing of an agreement in 1963. In 1987, Türkiye applied to join the EU. However, due to a number of reasons, this enlargement of the EU has not yet taken place.
Now Western media are actively curtsying towards Erdogan's opponent, considering him more pro-Western.