Turkey’s ‘No’ campaigners gain German approval to hold rallies while ‘Yes’ camp snubbed

Germany has approved Deniz Baykal, former chairman of the main opposition Peoples’ Republican Party (CHP), to hold a referendum speech for the “No” campaign in a German town, only two days after cancelling rallies set to be attended by Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag and Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci of the “Yes” camp.

The German authorities in the southern German town of Gaggenau controversially withdrew permission on Thursday for an event organised months in advance, where Turkey’s Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag would have met with the Turkish community.

Bozdag was expected to address the crowd about the upcoming referendum on 16 April for the proposed constitutional amendments in Turkey.

A senior politician among the opposition, Deniz Baykal, is also scheduled to hold a similar speech – only with the exception to speak against voting for the referendum – in Filderstadt near Stuttgart on Sunday, which was approved by German authorities today.

Minister Bozdag called the decision to stonewall his speech an act of fascism and said that a mutual stance should be taken against extremism.

Bozdag also said that he hopes Germany won’t cancel Baykal’s speech, and added that it is a democratic right for anyone who abides by the constitutional order to hold a speech anywhere.

On 16 April, Turks will decide whether to transform their current parliamentary democracy into an executive presidential democracy, similar to the French or US presidential systems.

“No” campaigners argue that it would increase authoritarianism in Turkey, while “Yes” campaigners argue that it would be no different to other democracies that already exist, and will in fact increase stability. If “Yes” wins, it could pave the way for incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to stay in office until 2029.