Merkel rules out Turkey EU membership in election debate

CAIRO – 4 September 2017: In the first televised debate between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her opponent Martin Schulz, three weeks before the chancellorship elections, Merkel refused Turkey’s desired EU membership, and the fact that Turkey backs the decision to have Qatar host the 2022 World Cup.

Merkel stressed on Sunday her opposition to Turkey's decades-old pursuit of the European Union (EU) membership and that she would seek a joint EU position on this with other leaders.

The debate between Merkel of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and her challenger, Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) candidate Schulz, took place three weeks before the country's general election.

Schulz, a former president of the European Union's legislative body, said that Merkel had to end talks with Ankara about joining the bloc referring to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's increasingly authoritarian policies.

Merkel also criticized Erdogan's rule, saying that his polices have nothing to do with democratic practices.

Relations between Germany and Turkey have soured in recent years. Ankara accuses Germany of harboring terrorist opposition groups and Berlin has slammed Turkey for a recent crackdown on dissidents and the arrest of several German citizens.

Both candidates were asked whether it was a good idea to hold the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Merkel thought it was “not a particularly good idea”.

The newspaper, Construction Week Online, described the workers' situation in Qatar as "non-humanitarian" and pointed out that the Qatari government has no "mercy" because it treats the workers as "slaves.”

Carbonated news website stated that the workers in Qatar who are building the 2022 World Cup stadium are living in a clear tragedy, without intervention by any of the officials, especially human rights, "Everyone can clearly see the inhuman disadvantages that we suffer in Qatar."

The newspaper revealed the existence of about 4,000 migrants at risk of death due to the denial of humanity and the lack of Qatari officials’ mercy. It stated that those migrants work in harsh summer temperatures to build the new stadium.


The newspaper said that up to 15 workers stay in one small room at the residence of their work, called a "practical camp," and they don’t even have the privilege to complain.


Qatar is in a dispute with several Arab states. Relations have been strained since May 24 over a leaked statement attributed to Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, criticizing Gulf foreign policy with Iran, describing it as “unwise”.

The Arab anti-terror quartet, consisting of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, have cut diplomatic ties with Qatar and imposed economic sanctions, accusing it of funding terrorism, a claim Qatar rejects. They also closed their airspace and seaports for Qatari transportation.

The Arab quartet issued 13 demands to Doha – then shortened to six principles - including closing Al-Jazeera television, curbing relations with Iran and shutting a Turkish military base.