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It seems that tension has returned on the Ankara-Paris line, after multiple Turkish attempts to calm down, and rapprochement with the countries of the European Union, especially France, after months of escalation.
After French President Emmanuel Macron expressed, a few days ago, his fear of the possibility of Turkish interference in the French elections through some Ankara-funded religious and educational institutions and societies, the response of the Justice and Development Party led by Turkish President Recep Tayyip. Erdogan, considering that these statements contain some racism.
‘Great fall’
The ruling party’s spokesman, Omar Celik, in a series of tweets on Saturday, said that “the repeated attacks by the French president on the Turkish community in his country represent a major setback in the efforts to bring Paris and Ankara closer.
Macron was also accused of attacking associations representing the Turkish community in France, despite previous calls by Ankara to abandon what he described in this method and in a “racist and superior” tone.
‘Attack Turkey’
Furthermore, Macron was accused of reverting to the focus of attacking Turkey, which is seen as a response to the positive political rhetoric that Paris has followed recently.
He recalled that “the last meeting, which was held on March 2 between the two presidents, via video communication, was an important step in the advancement of relations between the two countries.” However, the ruling party’s spokesman accused Macron of straying from the convergence line. .
Celik also stressed that “Turkey will not allow anyone to harm its religious institutions or communities anywhere in the world.”
“Turkey will manipulate public opinion”
It should be noted that Macron had expressed concern a few days ago that Turkey may seek to influence the upcoming French elections. He said during an interview with France 5: “The threats and the risks are there, so I think we have to be very clear on this issue.”
However, he did not provide any details, nor did he explain how Turkey could interfere in the elections, or whether he was referring to the June elections, the 2022 presidential elections, or both. Rather, he said, “Turkey will manipulate public opinion,” which likely indicates the possibility of its influence through its control over parts of the Turkish diaspora through schools, mosques and other organizations it funds in France.
Over the past few months, Turkish-European relations have witnessed severe tension at the level of many archives, most notably the eastern Mediterranean gas exploration, the Libyan archive, as well as the migrant archive, before relatively calm recently, following Ankara’s attempts to soften its rhetoric, in order to get closer to the European Union.
