Merkel's chief of staff eyes ban on Turkish campaigning

The German government will not rule out a ban on Turkish politicians campaigning in Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel's chief of staff said in an interview published on March 15 amid an escalating row between Ankara and European countries.

The ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) drive to drum up support among Turks living abroad for the April 16 referendum, which will decide whether to change the government system into an executive presidency with vastly enhanced powers for the president or to protect the current parliamentary system, has caused deep strains in ties between Ankara and Berlin and other European capitals.

"We will take a close look at what is responsible and what is not. An entry ban would be a last resort. But we reserve the right to do that," Peter Altmaier told the Funke Mediengruppe newspaper chain.
 
Emotions are running especially high after Germany banned several planned rallies by Turkish ministers, citing public security concerns. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has branded such bans "fascist," infuriating the German government. The Netherlands, similarly, has been labelled fascist for blocking a Turkish minister. 

The small western German state of Saarland said on March 14 it was invoking its right to ban political activities that put at risk the peaceful coexistence of Germans and foreigners. 

Altmaier said international law allowed all countries, including Germany, to ban the entry of foreign government officials, although this occurred only rarely.

"It's never happened in Germany, as far as I know. But the fact that Germany has not made full use of its options under international law is no 'free pass' for the future," he said.

He said Germany continued to fight for...