German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faced mounting criticism from political rivals and coalition partners following his visit to Ankara and meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, after focusing on a so-called “positive agenda” while downplaying concerns over human rights and the rule of law.
German media highlighted that the only public disagreement between the two leaders concerned Israel’s military actions in Gaza, with several outlets questioning Merz’s muted tone on Turkey’s domestic repression.
SPD lawmaker Serdar Yüksel, chair of the German-Turkish parliamentary group, told Focus magazine that any discussion of Turkey’s EU prospects must include “a frank acknowledgment of its human rights record.” He added that Merz’s silence on jailed opposition figures and press restrictions “sends the wrong message,” emphasizing that “Europe is more than an economic or security project — it’s about values.”
Green Party human rights spokesperson Max Lucks accused Merz of “ignoring reality in Turkey,” saying the chancellor “remained silent on Erdoğan’s politicized judiciary and ongoing suppression of democratic opposition.”
Germany’s public broadcaster ARD noted that Merz sought to maintain a “constructive tone” and strengthen ties with a “strategic partner,” acknowledging Turkey’s key role in NATO and regional security. However, the network reported that Merz only briefly mentioned concerns about judicial independence when pressed by reporters.
Der Spiegel described the encounter as a “strained diplomatic dance,” headlining that “Merz tried to be polite, but Erdoğan didn’t thank him for it.” The magazine noted the German leader’s restrained approach and questioned whether his charm offensive would yield results, concluding that “the meeting went less smoothly than Merz had hoped.”
The Handelsblatt and Süddeutsche Zeitung echoed this sentiment, with the latter remarking that Merz’s delegation — which included his wife at the invitation of Emine Erdoğan — appeared to aim for a “family-friendly atmosphere” rather than confrontation.
Meanwhile, BILD praised Merz for standing firm on Israel after Erdoğan’s harsh anti-Israel rhetoric, calling his response “courageously clear and worthy of a German chancellor.”
Die Welt reported that the leaders’ disagreement over Gaza and Turkey’s stalled EU accession derailed efforts to deepen bilateral ties, while commentator Deniz Yücel wrote that Erdoğan “got away with everything,” accusing Berlin of near “complicity.”
Left-leaning taz summarized Merz’s approach as a “euphoric flirtation” with Ankara, noting that “even deep divisions over Israel couldn’t deter him from pursuing his new Turkey policy.”
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