Turkey should not join the EU, says Angela Merkel
As she prepares for German elections later this month, the Chancellor says Turkey will never be a member of the EU
German leader Angela Merkel yesterday changed her position on Turkey's bid to join the EU as she took part in a TV election debate, saying: "It is clear that Turkey should not become a member of the EU."
The Chancellor was debating Martin Schulz, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), who was president of the European Parliament until earlier this year, standing down to challenge Merkel to lead Germany.
When is Germany's election?
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Europe's biggest economy goes to the polls on 24 September. Merkel, leading the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, is seeking a fourth term in office.
Who is in the lead?
"Two years ago," says Deutsche Welle, it looked like Merkel was "done for" – but now she seems to be a safe bet, well ahead of Schulz in opinion polls. In 2015, Merkel was in the doldrums. Then she put her political future on the line with a policy of welcoming refugees. This principled stance has won her respect, especially among the young, while the far-right movement she defied has lost momentum.
If Merkel wins the election, will she govern outright?
No – she is sure to lead a coalition government, once again. However, latest polls suggest that rather than the grand coalition of the last parliament, Merkel may be in charge of a combination of her own CDU and the FDP (Free Democratic Party) liberals. A similar coalition governed germany from 2009 to 2013.
Why did Merkel U-turn on Turkey?
Merkel foreshadowed last night's U-turn late last week when she said it might be time to "rethink" relations with Turkey, after another two German citizens were arrested there. Germany says Turkey is now holding 12 of its citizens on "political grounds", as the BBC reported. But the Chancellor was "outfoxed" by Schulz last night, and "bounced" into getting off the fence and promising she would speak to her EU colleagues to agree to end Turkey's accession talks, says Reuters.
Who won last night?
Merkel won the TV debate, according to a survey by Infratest Dimap for ARD television, which suggested her performance was viewed as more convincing overall by 55 per cent of viewers, compared to 35 per cent who favoured Schulz.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Is it safe for refugees to return to Syria?
Talking Point European countries rapidly froze asylum claims after Assad's fall but Syrian refugees may have reason not to rush home
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 14 - 20 December
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Drugmakers paid pharmacy benefit managers to avoid restricting opioid prescriptions
Under the radar The middlemen and gatekeepers of insurance coverage have been pocketing money in exchange for working with Big Pharma
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Why Assad fell so fast
The Explainer The newly liberated Syria is in an incredibly precarious position, but it's too soon to succumb to defeatist gloom
By The Week UK Published
-
Romania's election rerun
The Explainer Shock result of presidential election has been annulled following allegations of Russian interference
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Russia's shadow war in Europe
Talking Point Steering clear of open conflict, Moscow is slowly ratcheting up the pressure on Nato rivals to see what it can get away with.
By The Week UK Published
-
Cutting cables: the war being waged under the sea
In the Spotlight Two undersea cables were cut in the Baltic sea, sparking concern for the global network
By The Week UK Published
-
The nuclear threat: is Vladimir Putin bluffing?
Talking Point Kremlin's newest ballistic missile has some worried for Nato nations
By The Week UK Published
-
Russia vows retaliation for Ukrainian missile strikes
Speed Read Ukraine's forces have been using U.S.-supplied, long-range ATCMS missiles to hit Russia
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published