If the Turkish elections were held only in Germany, we would undoubtedly be talking about the triumph of Tayyip Erdogan. Overturning forecasts and estimates that saw an ambiguous battle in Germany as well – unlike in the past – and according to the first consolidated results from the German polling stations, Erdogan comes by a wide margin first with a percentage of 65%. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, on the other hand, receives 33% in Germany, based on the results so far.
In simple words, Tayyip Erdoğan maintains his traditional omnipotence in Germany – and in 2018 he received a percentage of 64.8%. Also of interest is the fact that in important cities in western Germany, Erdogan’s percentages exceed 70%: in Dusseldorf, the capital of the most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where about half a million Turkish voters voted, he receives 70.5% while in Essen, Erdogan’s traditional stronghold, his percentage reaches an impressive 77.4%.

Only in Berlin was the battle truly lopsided: 49% for Tayyip Erdogan and 49% for Kemal Kilicdaroglu and the opposition alliance. A total of 632,000 voters of Turkish origin voted in Germany out of a total of 1.4 million registered in Turkish electoral rolls.

Government briefing: “Normal democratic process”

A little while ago we had the first, moderate reactions from the German government. Government spokesman Stephen Hebstreit spoke of the conduct of “a normal democratic election process” which “makes us happy”, as he said.

After a question from a Turkish journalist about interventions by German parties in favor of the Turkish opposition during the election campaign, he underlined that “the German government did not make any electoral recommendations.” The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as stated by its representative, Andrea Sass, is awaiting the final, official results, the announcements of the Electoral Council and the findings of the election observers.

As for Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as reported by Steffen Hebstreit, he was briefed yesterday late in the night on the first results by foreign policy adviser Jens Pletner, taking into account various sources collected by German diplomatic authorities and experts, not only the Turkish government agency.

Lots of German political reactions

“The elections in Turkey were free, but not fair” commented on the Morgenmagazin program of the ZDF network, the head of the European Affairs Committee of the German parliament, Michael Roth, observing that “Turkey has been on the road to an authoritarian system for at least ten years.” For his part, the Turkish-origin Minister of Georgia from the Greens, Cem Ezdemir, said he was disappointed by the first results of the elections, noting, speaking to Bavarian Radio, that even if Kemal Kilicdaroglu had prevailed in the second round, “he would find a deeply divided country”.

For her part, the German vice president Culture’s Claudia Roth, speaking to the Phoenix network, said that: “if Erdogan remains in power, the disappointment for many will be indescribable.” He even called the current Turkish president to blame for the state of the Turkish economy, the persecution of political opponents, such as Selahattin Demirtas, journalists, artists and activists, such as Osman Kavala. “If the opposition wins, we too will have to help change in Turkey,” underlined Claudia Roth, characterizing Turkey as a “bankrupt state with dramatic inflation.”

For his part, Martin Erdmann, former German ambassador to Turkey, estimates in an interview with Deutschlandfunk that “if Erdogan does not make serious mistakes, in the coming weeks, it would be difficult for Kilicdaroglu to overthrow him.” Erdmann expressed the fear that “the journey of the authoritarian presidential system in Turkey will continue, with unpredictable consequences for the country”. The task of the opposition – should it win the second round of elections – is to restore freedom and resurrect the creative forces in Turkey.