Merkel makes U-turn on Turkey in EU as she gears up for election

Germand chancellor Angela Merkel and her rival for the job,
Martin Schulz, shake hands at a TV debate

German leader Angela Merkel yesterday changed her position on
Turkey’s bid to join the EU as she took part in a TV election
debate, saying: “It is clear that Turkey should not become a member
of the EU.”

The Chancellor was debating Martin Schulz, leader of the Social
Democratic Party (SPD), who was president of the European
Parliament until earlier this year, standing down to challenge
Merkel to lead Germany.

When is Germany’s election?

Europe’s biggest economy goes to the polls on 24 September.
Merkel, leading the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU)
party, is seeking a fourth term in office.

Who is in the lead?

“Two years ago,” says Deutsche Welle, it looked like Merkel was “done
for” – but now she seems to be a safe bet, well ahead of Schulz in
opinion polls. In 2015, Merkel was in the doldrums. Then she put
her political future on the line with a policy of welcoming
refugees. This principled stance has won her respect, especially
among the young, while the far-right movement she defied has lost
momentum.

If Merkel wins the election, will she govern
outright?

No – she is sure to lead a coalition government, once again.
However, latest polls suggest that rather than the grand coalition
of the last parliament, Merkel may be in charge of a combination of
her own CDU and the FDP (Free Democratic Party) liberals. A similar
coalition governed germany from 2009 to 2013.

Why did Merkel U-turn on Turkey?

Merkel foreshadowed last night’s U-turn late last week when she
said it might be time to “rethink” relations with Turkey, after
another two German citizens were arrested there. Germany says
Turkey is now holding 12 of its citizens on “political grounds”, as
the BBC reported. But the Chancellor was
“outfoxed” by Schulz last night, and “bounced” into getting off the
fence and promising she would speak to her EU colleagues to agree
to end Turkey’s accession talks, says Reuters.

Who won last night?

Merkel won the TV debate, according to a survey by Infratest
Dimap for ARD television, which suggested her performance was
viewed as more convincing overall by 55 per cent of viewers,
compared to 35 per cent who favoured Schulz.