Turkey’s leader warns the Netherlands will ‘pay a price’ as crisis spirals
Erdogan renews hugely controversial accusations that the Netherlands is behaving like the Nazis in its treatment of Turkish ministers
Istanbul — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday warned the Netherlands it would pay a price for preventing top ministers from holding rallies ahead of a referendum on expanding his powers, as a crisis escalated with Turkey’s key EU partners. Erdogan renewed hugely controversial accusations that the Netherlands — occupied by the Germans in the Second World War — was behaving like the Nazis in its treatment of Turkish ministers. Analysts are predicting a tight outcome to the April 16 referendum and key Turkish ministers have planned major rallies in key EU cities to win votes from millions of Turks resident abroad. But Turkey’s Family Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya was expelled after being prevented from addressing a rally in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam. Also this weekend, The Hague refused to allow Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu’s aircraft to land ahead of a planned rally. "Hey Holland! If you are sacrificing Turkish-Dutch relations for the sake of the elections ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.