Tensions in Türkiye ahead of elections also felt in Germany, says intelligence chief

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Thomas Haldenwang, head of the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which is responsible for domestic intelligence, talked about the possible repercussions of Türkiye's upcoming elections for Germany.

"Disputes in Türkiye's domestic politics are also brought to here. On the one side, there are those loyal to the government, which includes Turkish nationalists and people from the far right. On the other side, there are democratic opposition groups and those who sympathize with the PKK and other extremist and terrorist organizations," Haldenwang said, as quoted by DW Türkçe.

Dissident journalists from Türkiye are being "followed and intimidated" in Germany, Haldenwang added.

European countries, such as the Netherlands and Germany, have faced troubles with these minorities during election times in Türkiye, as they hold a relatively large part of the country's electorate.

In Germany, people from Türkiye are the largest minority group. Sixty years after the first guest workers came from Türkiye to Germany, around 3.4 percent of Germany's population has an immigration background linked to Türkiye.

These groups represent around 5 percent of Türkiye's overall electorate. In the 2018 snap elections in Türkiye, roughly half of them had cast their ballots, with most of them supporting current sitting President Erdoğan.

According to 2017 legal regulations in Germany, politicians from countries outside the European Union (EU) are not allowed to hold election rallies and events in Germany three months before the election date.

Nonetheless, the Organization for the Protection of the Constitution noted that some "election brochures" about the elections to be held in Türkiye were found in Germany. (SD/WM/VK)