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Erdogan: Turkey might hold referendum on EU membership

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters in Antalya, Turkey, Saturday. Erdogan on Friday has hit out at the head of Germany’s intelligence service for comments suggesting that Berlin was not convinced over U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen’s role in Turkey’s failed coup. Erdogan accused BND foreign intelligence chief Bruno Kahl of making the remarks on behalf of Germany’s leaders, whom he said backed Gulen’s movement. (Kayhan Ozer / Associated Press)
By Cinar Kiper Associated Press

ISTANBUL – Turkey’s president said Saturday the country might pursue a Brexit-like referendum on whether to pursue European Union membership and also lashed out at a critical protest in Switzerland.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan brought up the proposal at a Turkish-U.K. forum in the southern city of Antalya, referring to the British departure from the EU and saying Turkey “might” hold a similar referendum after the April 16 vote to expand the powers of the Turkish presidency.

The negotiation process for Turkey’s EU membership began in 2005, but has been at a standstill for years.

Tensions between Ankara and several European capitals have been escalating ahead of the contentious April 16 referendum.

Turkish opposition members and Western allies have criticized the constitutional referendum, saying it would grant Erdogan unprecedented authority with limited checks and balances.

Earlier this month, Dutch and German authorities restricted Turkish officials from campaigning for diaspora votes, resulting in harsh criticism from Ankara.

At a rally earlier Saturday, Erdogan lashed out at the critics who claimed Turkey would not be allowed into the EU if the referendum passed, saying it would “make our job easier” if Europe made that call and adding “Turkey is no one’s whipping boy.”

Erdogan also criticized a demonstration in Switzerland on Saturday where protestors hung a giant banner depicting the Turkish president with a gun to his head.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had summoned Swiss charge d’affaires to condemn the incident and that the minister had called his Swiss counterpart to voice his displeasure.

The statement also claimed the demonstrators belonged to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, adding that it would be “closely monitoring the legal and administrative actions to be taken by Swiss authorities regarding this crime.”