Turkish PM Erdogan calls EU “grandchildren of Nazis”

Vows to hold referendum on introduction of death penalty

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan unleashed a new tirade against Europe, calling on the Turkish people to ignore the “grandchildren of Nazism” and vote yes in the April 16 referendum. Mr. Erdogan addressed a crowd of supporters in the city of Rize in the north-east region of the country and stated he would hold a new referendum on the reintroduction of the death penalty, which had been scrapped 10 years ago as part of the requirements Turkey had to adopt in its bid to become an EU member. The Turkish President has repeatedly attacked EU countries in his campaign to win the vote of Turkish people in the upcoming referendum. A victory of Erdigan would help him consolidate more executive power. He has accused European countries of adopting “Nazi tactics” after EU governments banned political rallies on their soil in favour of Erdogan. A reintroduction of the death penalty in Turkey would effectively end the prospects of Turkey joining the EU.