Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has called German Chancellor Angela Merkel, an enemy of Turkey calling on Turks in Germany to vote against her and other major parties in next month’s elections.
The comments are some of Erdogan’s harshest yet against Merkel and her Christian Democrats, illustrating the widening divide between the NATO allies and major trade partners.
Ties between Ankara and Berlin have been strained in the aftermath of last year’s failed coup as Turkish authorities have detained more than 50,000 people and sacked or suspended 150,000 others, drawing criticism from Europe.
Erdogan, who has little patience for Western criticism, has accused Germany of anti-Turkish sentiment.
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