Swoboda slams PM Erdoğan for his ‘divisive rhetoric’

STRASBOURG

Hannes Swoboda, president of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) in the European Parliament. Hürriyet photo

Hannes Swoboda, president of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) in the European Parliament, has slammed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his “divisive rhetoric and continued violence” against Gezi park demonstrators.

“Mr. Erdoğan has said that he refuses to recognize the European Parliament and he refuses to recognize those who protest against him, his government and his policies. Ignoring the European Parliament can only mean that he does not want Turkey to become a member of the European Union,” Swoboda said in a written statement.

“Ignoring the voices of his people means that he is failing as a head of government. It should be his job to bring people together and not to divide them further.”

Swoboda recently targeted Erdoğan during a speech he made during the European Parliament session, where he slammed the prime minister’s remarks about unwillingness to change.

“The Socialists and Democrats Group condemn in the strongest terms the renewed police violence Erdoğan has ordered in Taksim Square. Again we ask him to act as a statesman and not just as a party political leader,” he said.