Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic, election observer for the Austrian Greens, described Tuesday night’s elections in Turkey as “not free”. Ernst-Dziedzic worked as an election observer together with her Green party colleague Heidemarie Folge. There was also dissatisfaction with Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, who congratulated Erdogan without making any critical remarks.
Armed police prevented the two observers from entering polling stations in eastern Anatolia. The two Green politicians reported on the arrests of opposition members during the election weekend and strong polarization: “We were insulted as foreign agents on an AKP election party.” Dziedzic. Opposition presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu turned against Syrian refugees and Kurds in the second ballot to appeal to nationalist voters.
Congratulations Van der Bellen to Erdogan ‘annoying’
Ernst-Dziedzic also criticized Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen in this regard. On Sunday, he was one of the first heads of state to congratulate incumbent Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his re-election. “Of course there are diplomatic customs, but it is annoying that Van der Bellen congratulated him without making a critical comment,” said the politician about the former leader of the Greens.
“Wolf greetings have no place on Austrian roads”
The influence of Erdogan’s AKP and the far-right MHP in Austria is also a problem, according to the Green foreign policy spokeswoman: “Wolf salutes have no place in the Austrian streets.” At a celebration of President Erdogan’s election victory at Vienna’s Reumannplatz, Turkish nationalists had displayed the banned MHP wolf salute. MHP-related clubs should be better observed in Vienna, Folge demanded: “In Vienna, there should not be a penny for MHP clubs.” Instead, progressive Turkish parties should be strengthened. “In the past, we closed our eyes out of wrong consideration,” said the Viennese member of the state parliament.
Criticism of the Vienna SPÖ
Redar Han of the Kurdish association FEYKOM criticized the SPÖ: “The SPÖ was not present at the Turkish elections. There were no signals from Austria. “The SPÖ should take a closer look. Parties such as on Reumannplatz are unacceptable,” said SPÖ MP Robert Laimer.
“Erdogan will not hold back,” says Ernst-Dziedzic. Austria must therefore link economic relations to criteria and condemn the “Turkish violation of international law in Rojava”. Turkey repeatedly bombed the Kurdish Autonomous Region in Syria and occupied the Afrin region with the help of Syrian militias. The National Council member also called for support for political prisoners: “Anyone who goes to a May 1 demonstration in Austria can be arrested in Turkey for allegedly being close to the PKK.” , but also classified as a terrorist organization by the European Union.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
