Relations between Germany and Turkey have worsened since an attempted putsch against President Erdogan led to a crackdown on dissent GUIDO BERGMANN/BUNDESREGIERUNG VIA GETTY IMAGESTurnout among voters from a Turkish background is expected to fall in the German election after a call from President Erdogan not to support Turkey’s “enemies”. More than a third of the 1.4 million voters with Turkish roots will shun the election, a survey suggests. Usually most German-Turkish voters support the Social Democratic Party (SPD) so a boycott could benefit Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Relations between Turkey and Germany have worsened since Mr Erdogan’s crackdown on opponents after the failed coup in July last year. A dozen German citizens have been arrested in Turkey, while more than 250 military and diplomatic figures have claimed asylum in Germany.

Source: The Times September 17, 2017 23:05 UTC