Turkey slams Austria over anti-Erdogan referendum stance

Ankara has denounced Vienna’s stance on the country’s upcoming constitutional referendum after Austria’s top diplomat said the Turkish president cannot hold campaign events in the Central European state.

“The participation of Turkish nationals living abroad in the election process in Turkey is a democratic necessity. This process has nothing to do with Austrian domestic politics,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement released late on Monday.

The statement added that Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz’s comments do not comply with the universal principles of democracy, decrying his approach as “irresponsible.”

“On the contrary to Kurz’s claims, what damages the integration [of Turks living in Austria] is discriminatory and divisive rhetoric to prevent Turkish nationals from using their democratic rights,” it pointed out.

Earlier on Monday, Kurz had said in a statement that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was not welcome to hold rallies in Austria as this could increase friction and hinder integration there.

“We clearly reject bringing the Turkish campaign and polarization to Austria,” the foreign minister said.

He, however, stressed that the Turkish leader was still welcome to visit Vienna for bilateral talks with senior Austrian officials.

Erdogan is said to be planning to campaign in several European Union countries before the April 16 referendum on the president's executive powers.

Late last month, the Turkish parliament approved the 18-article constitutional change, which was submitted in December. A total of 339 legislators voted in favor of the move. The number of the parliamentarians who voted against the bill was 142.

SS