Socialists & Democrats Group calls for cross-party talks in Turkey to end the violence

While demonstrations and protests supported by the unions are continuing across Turkey and the death of a second young demonstrator has been confirmed, the Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has left the country for a state visit to Morocco.

Hannes Swoboda, president of the Socialists & Democrats Group in the European Parliament, said:

„I find it unbelievable that Prime Minister Erdoğan has left the country while demonstrations and protests are escalating in cities all over Turkey. President Gül should order Mr Erdoğan back to Ankara immediately and hold cross-party talks to find a swift solution to end the violence.

„We stand in solidarity with the vast majority of demonstrators who are protesting peacefully. Two people have already lost their lives in the violence. The police must be ordered to stop all violence immediately.

„The Socialists and Democrats Group has called for an urgent discussion on the situation in Turkey at the European Parliament’s plenary session next week. The European Union must not turn a blind eye to protests on this scale and to police violence in a country which is a candidate to join the EU.“