Ankara
Turkey’s conservative party said this week it wanted to join the E.U.’s umbrella league of European right-wing parties. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan said that his ruling Justice and Development Party, while Islamist, is both conservative and democratic—so it meets the criteria for membership in the European Peoples’ Party. Erdogan believes such a partnership would smooth the way for Turkey’s long-desired entry into the E.U. But it may be tough going. Most of Europe’s conservative parties are Christian Democratic, and their members don’t want to see a Muslim country in the union. In Germany, which has the largest Turkish minority population of any E.U. country, the Christian Democratic Union is adamantly against Turkish participation in the league. “We would be reluctant,” said CDU leader Hartmut Nassauer. “I don’t see that it is very urgent to discuss it.”
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.
-
Why the weather keeps getting 'stuck'In the Spotlight Record hot and dry spring caused by 'blocked' area of high pressure above the UK
-
Can Starmer sell himself as the 'tough on immigration' PM?Today's Big Question Former human rights lawyer 'now needs to own the change – not just mouth the slogans' to win over a sceptical public
-
UK-India trade deal: how the social security arrangements will workThe Explainer A National Insurance exemption in the UK-India trade deal is causing concern but should British workers worry?
