How will German-Turkish relationship develop, should Greens, in coalition negotiations with union and FDP, receive office of Foreign Minister and make party chief Cem Özdemir Foreign minister? Currently, this is only a vague possibility, yet it already employs people in Turkey and Germany.

After Bundestag election, Turkish community in Germany hopes to improve German-Turkish relationship. "A normalization awaits both people of Turkey as well as people of Germany," said federal chairman Gabriel Sofuoğlu. He does not expect a furr deterioration of relations in a decision for Özdemir as foreign minister. "I don't think he has a great interest in enlarging this gap between Germany and Turkey."

Özdemir is one of strongest critics of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Germany. He referred to head of state as "AKP dictator" and for detention of German for political reasons as a "hostage taker".

Criticism from ACP

In Turkish ruling party ACP, possibility that Özdemir foreign minister could become, however, is viewed with scepticism. "Then we might have given away years before us," said ACP MEP Mustafa Yeneroğlu. "Cem Özdemir is not perceived in Turkey as Ambassador of Germany, but as someone who wants to operate Turkish domestic politics."

Erdoğan, however, will "try for real political reasons" to give Özdemir as representatives of Germany a chance, said Yeneroğlu, who is in chair of Human Rights Committee of Turkish Parliament. But that depends on wher green boss is changing his stance. "If he has such unqualified statements as in past on a possible visit to Turkey, he will not be welcome."

Yeneroğlu said he sent a text message to Özdemir in evening of Bundestag election in which he congratulated him on election result and expressed his hope for an improvement in tense German-Turkish relations. He did not receive an answer.

If Özdemir received post, he would be first federal foreign minister with a so-called immigrant background. His parents had come to Germany as a guest worker from Turkey in 1960s. A Turkish-speaking minister of State gave it to Migration Commissioner Aydan Özoğuz already in expiring electoral period in cabinet.

Date Of Update: 08 October 2017, 12:06