Erdogan – Our friend the autocrat? | Quadriga

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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, it seems, is trying to turn Turkey into a one-man state. Political opponents and press freedom are under fierce pressure. Despite his autocratic ambitions, the European Union continues negotiations over a refugee deal.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel raised concerns over Turkey’s commitment to democracy at a meeting with President Erdogan earlier this week.

Merkel wants to see the refugee deal with Turkey in place as soon as possible. But there are increasing signs that it might not come to fruition at all as accusations and counter-accusations fly back and forth between Brussels, Berlin and Ankara.

Is the EU betraying its democratic values by dealing with Erdogan?

What do you think? Write to us: quadriga(at)dw.com

Our guests:

Maximilian Popp is an award-winning reporter for Spiegel who focuses on Turkey. In his opinion „The refugee-deal between the EU and Turkey is wrong. It strips refugees off their human rights and puts human lives at risk.”

Andreas Kluth is the Germany correspondent for The Economist and he says: „The only thing worse than sticking to the refugee deal with Turkey is not sticking with it."

Değer Akal is a Berlin-based journalist from Turkey and covers Turkish foreign policy including its relations with Germany. She says: „Erdoğan is in an accelerated process of power centralization and consolidation. Backing away from democracy would only deepen Turkey's problems and isolation.”