German leader vows to halt Turkey’s EU accession talks

‘German Chancellor Angela Merkel has pledged to push EU members to consider suspending or ending Turkey’s accession talks, saying Ankara has been abandoning the rule of law.
“Turkey is moving away from the path of the rule of law at a very fast speed,” Merkel said in a Tuesday televised debate with her Social Democrat (SPD) election rival before the Bundestag lower house of parliament in Berlin.
“We will also – and I will suggest this takes place at the EU meeting in October – discuss future relations with Turkey, including the question of suspending or ending talks on accession,” she said.
“I will push for a decisive stand … But we need to coordinate and work with our partners,” the chancellor pointed out.
Merkel also underlined her government’s determination to do everything in its power to secure the release of 12 Germans citizens detained in Turkey on political charges, whom Berlin says are innocent.’
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