Far-right rises in Europe, Metiner warns AKP: 'Whatever it takes...'

Following Austria, far-right parties have taken the top spot in France in the European Parliament (EP) elections. Yeni Şafak columnist Mehmet Metiner penned an article titled "Will the rise of the far-right in Europe affect us?" 

In the section of his article titled 'Risky Areas in Turkey', Metiner listed the items: 'the refugee problem, the economic problem, northern Syria, and the Kurdish issue'.

Stating, “We must solve the economic problem, whatever it takes,” Metiner added, “Otherwise, it could combine with the refugee problem and cause our country to be dragged into wrong and dangerous political channels. In this case, parties engaging in populism by saying they will 'distribute generously to everyone' could very well emerge from the ballot box. Or they could settle onto the political stage as a new option that would disrupt political stability.”

The relevant part of Metiner's article is as follows:

"The problem here is this: Permanence that will turn into a visible demographic change can be transformed into xenophobia along with the ethnic nationalism that is sought to be elevated. We must solve the economic problem, whatever it takes. Otherwise, it could combine with the refugee problem and cause our country to be dragged into wrong and dangerous political channels. In this case, parties engaging in populism by saying they will 'distribute generously to everyone' could very well emerge from the ballot box. Or they could settle onto the political stage as a new option that would disrupt political stability.

If the AK Party does not take steps to resolve these problem areas, it will quickly cease to be the hope of the nation, and I fear that parties using far-right arguments will exploit the political vacuum that will arise from this."

News Source: 12punto