Germany to block Turkish death penalty referendum

[Tender Branson]

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http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/latest-germany-turkish-death-penalty-vote-47225690

So far in Austria, Foreign & Integration Minister Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) and NEOS want the same.

[DavidB.]

Ridiculous -- and I felt the same about the controversy with regard to the previous referendum.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

"European values". Are they anything more than some meaningless bludgeon by which the speaker flexes his or her alleged moral-social standing?

[mencken]

Why did they not do this with the previous vote? Is it because Merkel wants the precedent of a previously Westernized nation establishing a sultanate?

And is this not a tacit admission that the Turks in Germany do not hold European values? Surely if Merkel thought otherwise she would encourage expatriate participation to ensure the vote's failure.

[ApatheticAustrian]

"European values". Are they anything more than some meaningless bludgeon by which the speaker flexes his or her alleged moral-social standing?

the death-penalty is against our values, yeah.

like with the US, we are doing realpolitik re: foreign stuff but we are clearly not allowing undermining of the liberal democracy inside of the EU and also reject participating in autocratic power-plays to bring back the death penalty. if the double citizens want to vote for it, they should travel to istanbul.

[ApatheticAustrian]

And is this not a tacit admission that the Turks in Germany do not hold European values? Surely if Merkel thought otherwise she would encourage expatriate participation to ensure the vote's failure.

you seem to be 2 or 3 news cycles behind, this has been a big story again during the last months and isn't a hot take at all.

[Green Line]

Crazy... Maybe Germany is the one who needs to be kicked out of NATO.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

"European values". Are they anything more than some meaningless bludgeon by which the speaker flexes his or her alleged moral-social standing?

the death-penalty is against our values, yeah.

like with the US, we are doing realpolitik re: foreign stuff but we are clearly not allowing undermining of the liberal democracy inside of the EU and also reject participating in autocratic power-plays to bring back the death penalty. if the double citizens want to vote for it, they should travel to istanbul.

Fascinating. Especially in light of the fact that parties formed around "European values" tend to be xenophobic and chauvinistic.

[ApatheticAustrian]

Fascinating. Especially in light of the fact that parties formed around "European values" tend to be xenophobic and chauvinistic.

well, you know the saying, if fascim comes to the US, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.

[Helsinkian]

Fascinating. Especially in light of the fact that parties formed around "European values" tend to be xenophobic and chauvinistic.

If you look at the recent French election, I'm pretty sure it was Emmanuel Macron who was talking more about European values, with Le Pen preferring to talk about French values.

I know that there are far-right groups in the US that talk about a common "European" identity (Identity Evropa etc.) but the far-right in Europe is generally not very interested in the pan-European idea.

Concerning the actual topic: just let the Turks have the referendum. Maybe that will finally convince the EU leaders to end membership talks with Turkey.