MPs on the expulsion of ambassadors: Turkey is on a collision course

Earlier today, Erdogan said, among other things, that he wanted to declare the Dutch ambassador persona non grata, and then expel her from the country. It is a response to a statement drafted together by the ten ambassadors. In it, they demanded the release of Turkish businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala. The statement was also signed by the Dutch ambassador, Marjane de Quastnet.

According to the VVD’s foreign affairs spokesman, Ruben Brekelmans, Erdogan is showing his true face with the move “again”. Berkelman described the Turkish decision on Twitter as “a ridiculous act and a meaningless escalation”. Tom van der Lee (GroenLinks) describes it as “a strange decision on Erdogan’s part”. He finds an “appropriate response” necessary.

“Lost Bag”

Dirk Jan Ebenk (JA21) tweeted that the Turkish president “has lost his mind and appears to be sultan towards old age.” “Impose people because they are protesting and deport ambassadors if they are criticized,” says Jasper van Dijk of the SP party. “It all fits in with Erdogan’s hateful modus operandi.”

The ambassadors released the statement Monday on the fourth anniversary of Kavala’s arrest. He was not convicted and the European Court of Human Rights at the end of 2019 ruled that Kavala should be released immediately.

The world is upside down

Sjoerd Sjoerdsma (D66) says the Dutch ambassador rightly referred to the European Court’s decision to release Kavala. “The fact that Turkey expelled the Dutch ambassador because she acted in line with that court’s ruling is the world upside down.”

The Dutch Foreign Ministry said it had not yet received official confirmation of the deportation. “We have noted the statements made by Turkish President Erdogan today. At the moment we have no official confirmation that Turkey will expel the Dutch ambassador. We are waiting for a call from the Turkish Foreign Ministry on this,” a Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman said. .