(Deutsche Welle) The German government announced on Friday negotiations with Ankara to create a framework for Turkish schools to be opened in Berlin, Cologne and Frankfurt, sparking debate over the schools’ role in increasing Turkish President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan’s political influence abroad.
The three cities are among Germany’s largest and have significant population centers of Turkish citizens and Germans of Turkish descent. Germany is home to some 3 million individuals with Turkish roots, half of whom hold German citizenship.
A spokesperson for Germany’s Foreign Ministry told reporters on Friday that the proposal primarily aims at “securing a legal basis” for German schools in Turkey.
