Menu
Latest
Menu
Latest
Commentary

Eleven Parliamentarians of Turkish origin have been elected to the Bundestag.

24 September 2013

Eleven parliamentarians of Turkish origin have been elected to the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of Parliament, following the general elections held on 22 September in which Chancellor Angela Merkel registered a historic victory and was only short by a few votes from securing an overall majority for the first time in decades. The election was also notable because for the first time Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) parliamentary group also includes a person of Turkish and Muslim origin. The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily News said that "Cemile Giousouf, one of the 11 elected, not only completed a successful journey into the Parliament, but also achieved a historic milestone as she became the first ever Turkish and Muslim candidate to have emerged from Merkel's conservatives."

Commonspace.eu political editor said in a comment:

"The Turkish community in Germany is often characterised as being backward and isolated from the rest of German society. Whilst this is certainly not true economically, it is now clear that it is not true politically either. The Turkish community is playing an important role in German political life and has started making an impact. What is interesting is that the eleven members of parliament elected now represent a wide cross section of political opinion, including the two major political parties the CDU/CSU and the social democratic SPD, who now have five MPs from the Turkish community. Other MPs elected represent the Greens and the left wing Die Linke, with three and two MPs of Turkish origin respectively. This development helps much to dispel criticism that the Turkish community in Germany is marginalised. These eleven MPs now have a chance to work both within their respective political parties as well as nation-wide not only for their community but for the whole German nation.

Despite isolated incidents that should not be ignored, Europe is not a xenophobic society. Most European countries are multi-ethnic and multi-faith and Europe continues to find ways in which it turns its diversity into strength."

Source: commonspace.eu

Photo: The German Bundestag in Berlin (archive picture).

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Aden under curfew, as problem in Yemen's south deepens
Trending

Aden under curfew, as problem in Yemen's south deepens

8 January 2026
The port city of Aden, in Yemen's south, has been put under curfew, as the rift in the country between  the Saudi led coalition which  backs Yemen's presidential governing council, and the southern forces led by the Southern Transitional Council (STC), deepens. Abdul Rahman al-Mahrami, a member of the Yemeni Presidential Governing Council and commander of the al-Amalik brigades, has ordered a curfew in the temporary capital, Aden, "to maintain security". "A curfew has been imposed throughout Aden Governorate from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., in accordance with the instructions of Commander Abdul Rahman al-Mahrami, a member of the Presidential Management Council," the statement said. It states that only security and military personnel, as well as medical and technical teams with approved permits, will be allowed to move in the area during these hours. Yemen's presidential council, which is backed by Saudi Arabia and which already is in a struggle with the Houthi Movement in the north of the country who also occupy the capital Sanaa, two days ago issued an order for the arrest of the head of the Southern Transitional Council (STC),, Aidarous al Zubaidi. The STC have wide support among people in the South, and advocate that South Yemen restores its independence. The coalition warned of further escalation in Aden, long regarded as an STC stronghold, as the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) chief accused STC leader Aidarous Al Zubaidi of “high treason” and announced the revocation of his membership in the governing body. The moves mark a sharp escalation in tensions within the anti-Houthi camp, despite National Shield Forces, rivals of the STC and former allies, having recently retaken control of Hadhramaut and Mahra from southern fighters. The STC’s takeover of the two regions last month angered Saudi Arabia and contributed to igniting the current internal conflict. (click the picture to read more)

Popular

Editor's choice
Analysis
Analysis: Why what happens in Greenland matters
Trending

Analysis: Why what happens in Greenland matters

12 April 2021
The snap elections for the parliament of Greenland last Tuesday (6 April 2021) attracted unusual interest from major powers who have been watching the political and economic impact of the election results on their interests in the Arctic region. Among them, the Chinese, who have invested in the Kvanefjeld mine on the island. Maximiliaan van Lange analyses the background to the recent Greenlandic general elections, and the Island's geostrategic position in the Arctic in this article for commonspace.eu.
Maximiliaan van Lange