Thousands of people with Turkish backgrounds took to the streets to celebrate Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s re-election on Sunday, prompting harsh criticism from the right and concern from the left.

Like in other countries where people of Turkish background live, most of the 100,000 Austrian residents of Turkish background voted for Erdogan (74%) on Sunday night, the Turkish news agency reported. After Erdogan’s win, hundreds took to the streets, blocking traffic, and in some cases, used pyrotechnics, media reported.

“When, after the victory of the controversial Turkish president Erdogan, thousands of people suddenly paralyse traffic and public order to celebrate ‘their’ president, we are witnesses to a further aggravation of the situation,” Karl Mahrer, chief of centre-right ÖVP Vienna, said Monday.

Some of the people who took to the streets were charged with using the calling card of the Turkish far-right “Grey Wolves” gang.

Similar concerns were voiced on the side of the far-right.

“If Erdogan is such a great president, then surely they should live in the country where he rules. Off to Turkey with these people,” said Dominik Nepp, chief of the far-right FPÖ Vienna.

According to experts, poor integration and discrimination are among the reasons for Erdogan’s support among the Turkish diaspora.

“Nationalism imported from abroad is the opposite of integration and has no place in our country,” stressed Integration Minister Susanne Raab of the ruling conservative ÖVP.

(Nikolaus J. Kurmayer | EURACTIV.de)

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