Erdogan warns EU about extending state of emergency
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has censured the European Union, warning that Ankara could extend a state of emergency in place since the abortive coup of July 15.
"Maybe the state of emergency will be extended by three months and then maybe another three months... This is a decision for the government and the parliament," Erdogan said on Saturday.
The state of emergency was once renewed and could be extended again in January.
Erdogan blasted the EU for meddling in the internal affairs of Turkey, following a decision by the European Parliament on November 24 to back a freeze in EU accession talks with Ankara.
"Is the European Parliament in charge of this country or is the government in charge of this country?” Erdogan asked. "What's it to you?... Know your place!"
The long and angry speech of criticism and accusation by the Turkish president comes amid strained relations between Ankara and Brussels.
Turkey has criticized the EU for not doing enough to condemn the abortive coup. The EU says Ankara has been acting beyond the rule of law in its post-coup clampdown. More than 37,000 people have been arrested in Turkey as part of the crackdown, which targets people suspected of having links to US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom the Turkish government accuses of having masterminded the coup. Gulen denies the allegation.
More than 100,000 people have also been dismissed or suspended from jobs on similar charges. Turkey has also toughened its crackdown on the Kurdish population in the country’s southeast, claiming it is hunting down militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Erdogan said in his speech that the EU parliament's decisions against Turkey aids and abets terrorism. He also threatened that reinstatement of capital punishment would be on agenda for Ankara if the Turkish parliament deemed it necessary. Erdogan said that in reviving the death penalty he would listen to the Turkish people and not "Hans" and "George," referring to two common European names.
"If the people want capital punishment, it goes to parliament. If parliament says yes, I will sign it. I am not going to take a decision based on what Hans says, or what George says," Erdogan said, adding, "I answer to the people."
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