Guest on "Hart aber fair": Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, (FDP, foreign policy expert; deputy chairman of the parliamentary group). © WDR/Dirk Borm
Presenter Louis Klamroth dissects the Turkish election with his guests in the political talk show "Hart aber fair". Does the opposition alliance stand a chance against President Erdogan in the run-off election?
Cologne - With its selection of guests at "Hart aber fair", the editorial team has tried to reflect the broad spectrum of Turkish opinion on the Turkish election. The german-Turkish journalist Deniz Yücel, who was imprisoned in Turkey for a year for his criticism of the political leadership around President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is represented by the political talk on Das Erste.
The journalist Nalan Sipar, who has her own YouTube channel, on the other hand, shows understanding for both political camps in the show. The german-Turkish AKP voter, Erdoğan's party, Ufuk Varol, is allowed to explain and later take a seat at the debate counter. He perceives the German criticism of the Turkish president as unjustified interference. In this context, Yücel also harshly criticizes Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir of the Greens, who called for the election of opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu in Turkish during the election campaign.
"Tough but fair" - these guests discussed with:
- Alexander Graf Lambsdorff (FDP) - Vice-Chairman of the parliamentary group
- Deniz Yücel - german-Turkish journalist and publicist, correspondent of Die Welt
- Fritz Schramma - formerLord Mayor of Cologne
- Nalan Sipar - freelance journalist and reporter
- Ufuk Varol - Erdogan voters
"No victory yet: Is the eternal Erdoğan wobbly?" is the title of the political talk in Das Erste, which had been changed at short notice – and a day earlier had been "The day after the Turkish elections: Does democracy still have a chance?" The political talk, which is the last on German television to hold on to its live audience in the studio, also relies on scene applause in this program. People like to applaud in the places that also support the title.
Although the show does not hide the fact that it would be in favor of a change of government in Turkey, it tries to moderate in a balanced way. In some places, however, the discussion threatens to get out of hand. Above all, the journalist Deniz Yücel, who is connected to the event, can only be brought to an end with difficulty by presenter Louis Klamroth when he talks himself into a rage about the misdemeanours of the Turkish government.
"Har aber fair" asks the question: Was Turkey's election fair?
Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, a member of the German Bundestag for the Free Democratic Party (FDP), announced that the election in Turkey was "the most important election of this year, in the whole world. Period." The reason is the geopolitical situation: "85 million people right at the interface between Europe, between Russia, between the Middle East." Lambsdorff comes to the conclusion that the election in Turkey was free, but that the election campaign was not "fair" in the run-up. What this means is illustrated by ARD correspondent Katharina Willinger. For example, the incumbent president was seen for hours on Turkish television. The CHP top candidate, on the other hand, only lasted a total of 35 minutes. Willinger: "95 percent of the media are close to the government." Lambsdorff adds that Kılıçdaroğlu's television appearances are not only rare, but also in a "negative context". The foreign policy expert, who met the CHP leader in person, is certain: "With Kılıçdaroğlu as president, Turkey would move closer to Europe again."
1.5 million Turks eligible to vote live in Germany, and a good two-thirds voted for Erdoğan, according to the latest surveys. Ufuk Varol from Cologne, who left Turkey with his parents as a child, is one of them. From Varol's point of view, Erdoğan has advanced Turkey with his policies: "With the Erdoğan government, however, we have seen that something is happening. Something decent is happening in Turkey." When Yücel brings up the economic crisis and the threat to the Turkish middle class, Varol brushes aside these objections. This is a "German view" of things, according to the Cologne native.
"Tough but fair" on Turkey's election in Germany
Varol also sees the feeling of exclusion of many Turks in German society as one reason why many in this country support the president. Journalist Nalan Sipar agrees: Many german-Turkish Erdoğan voters in Germany "don't really feel accepted by German society." Yücel disagrees, referring to Europe-wide social studies that defined people's milieu affiliations as decisive. In some cases, Turks also voted for the same party in the "diaspora" for three generations, the journalist said.
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Fancy a voyage of discovery?
My areaLouis Klamroth (r) with his guests: Nalan Sipar, (freelance journalist and reporter (for WDR, among others); runs a Youtube channel for the german-Turkish community) and Fritz Schrammer (former Lord Mayor of Cologne; campaigned for the construction of the Ditib Grand Mosque in Cologne). © WDR/Dirk Borm
The former mayor of Cologne, Fritz Schramma (CDU), also reports on racism in society. During his term of office, Schramma had campaigned for the construction of the central mosque by the Turkish-Islamic Union of the Institute for Religion (Ditib) in Cologne - and experienced enormous resistance. During his conversations on the streets of Cologne, everyday racism was unvarnished: Schramma: "Jews, Africans ... everything was lumped together."
He also talks about the work with Ditib, which is under the control and supervision of the State Presidency for Religious Affairs of Turkey, which in turn is subordinate to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The Turkish ties have repeatedly led to conflicts during the construction period, reports Schramma. Against his express will, the Turkish head of state Erdoğan personally arrived at the opening of the central mosque in 2018.
The Cologne politician is still indignant about the appearance at that time and could not resist a subtlety, which assures him laughter in the audience: "I then said that the mosque will still be standing when Erdoğan is no longer in office ..."
Conclusion of the "Tough but fair" talk
A very lively, emotional show. The cultural difference between Germany and Turkey also becomes vivid. At the same time, the discussion shows how close the two nations are, as it were. The show also illustrates that an emotional discussion does not have to be negative, it can also bring people together. Perhaps there should be more of them. Also against the background that the run-off election between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and challenger Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu will take place on 28 May. So far, the probability of another presidential term is greater. (Verena Schulemann)
