Dutch are Nazi remnants Says Turkish President

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described the Dutch as “Nazi remnants and fascists”, as a diplomatic row grows over a cancelled rally.

The Turkish foreign minister was due to speak in the Dutch city of Rotterdam on Saturday in support of a referendum to give Mr Erdogan greater powers.

But the rally was banned for security reasons, and the minister’s plane was then refused permission to land.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the remark was “way out of line”.

“It’s a crazy remark of course,” Mr Rutte said.

Turkey has summoned the Dutch charge d’affaires for an explanation.

‘Reasonable solution impossible’ President Erdogan said at a rally in Istanbul threatened to retaliate by blocking Dutch flights.

He said: “Ban our foreign minister from flying however much you like, but from now on, let’s see how your flights will land in Turkey.”

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also warned Turkey would impose heavy sanctions if his visit were blocked.

Mr Rutte warned in a statement (in Dutch) that the Turkish threat of sanctions made “the search for a reasonable solution impossible”.

The Netherlands was therefore withdrawing landing rights, he said.

Mr Rutte also stressed that Dutch officials had earlier discussed whether the planned rally with Mr Cavusoglu could be private and “smaller-scale” and held in a Turkish consulate or embassy.

The Netherlands “regrets the course of events, and remains committed to dialogue with Turkey,” the statement added.

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Analysis – Mark Lowen, Turkey Correspondent

Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a canny political operator. While his falling-out with key European allies and explosive comparisons to the Nazis may seem chaotic, it’s quite possibly all planned by a man who knows he thrives as the underdog.

Sending Turkish ministers to Europe when relations with Turkey are flagging and some European states are nearing elections was never going to be warmly welcomed by the German or Dutch governments.

They rose to the bait – and it has allowed Mr Erdogan to paint this is as a conspiracy against Turkey and himself as the nationalist Turkish hero fending off the European oppressor.

That will rally his support base and far-right nationalists who he’s trying to woo before the presidential referendum next month.

But it will horrify the other side of Turkey – the pro-European liberals who see their country drifting ever further from the west and their President engaging in unprecedented slander against other NATO allies.

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The diplomatic row comes just days before Dutch voters go to the polls.

The election campaign has been dominated by issues of identity, the BBC’s Anna Holligan in The Hague says.

The anti-Islam leader of the Freedom Party Geert Wilders – who campaigned against the Turkish minister’s visit – is expected to make significant gains, our correspondent adds.

Austria, Germany and Switzerland have banned similar gatherings where Turkish officials were due to speak.

Earlier this week, the cancellations in Germany led Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to accuse Berlin of “Nazi practices”.

That comment drew a sharp response from top German government officials.

Mr Erdogan is seeking to extend his powers in the 16 April vote.

He is targeting millions of expatriate voters eligible to cast a ballot in the referendum – including 1.4 million in Germany. BBC.

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