Donald Tusk and Jean Claude Juncker condemn Turkey’s remarks

Turkey’s accusations of fascism in the Netherlands are “completely detached from reality”, President of the European Council Donald Tusk said, Reuters reported. Turkey’s remarks came after the Netherlands canceled rallies by Turkish politicians in Rotterdam, which had been due to drum up support for a referendum that would give Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sweeping new powers.

“Rotterdam, the city of Erasmus, totally destroyed by the Nazis, which now has a mayor born in Morocco: If any anyone sees fascism in Rotterdam they are completely detached from reality,” Tusk saying at a plenary session of the European Parliament as quoted by Reuters. Tusk’s remarks were echoed by European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker who said by making such statements the Turkish side is moving away from becoming a member of the European Union.