So far, there is no specific date, but already makes a possible trip of the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Germany for excitement. Heiko Maas has now defended the planned visit against criticism from the opposition: "I think that of course you have to talk very special with those with whom you have many questions," said the Federal Foreign Minister.

"I (of course) believe that those who have been elected Head of State of a country must of course deal with it accordingly, and that is what the President has done," Maas said.

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Heiko Maas

At the weekend, the "Bild" newspaper reported on Erdogan's plans for a state visit in late September. It is not yet clear, however, whether it will be a state visit with all protocol elements such as state banquet and reception with military honors. But even then, one could discuss uncomfortable questions, said Maas.

The Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany simply stated: "There has been an invitation to the Turkish President to visit Germany for a long time, but the date for the visit has not yet been fixed."

Nahles: State guests "from all over the world"

From the ranks of the Greens and the AfD, there had been criticism on the weekend plans for a state visit. Greens politician Cem Özdemir said Erdogan was "not a normal president in a democracy" and therefore should not be so received.

The AFD group leader Alice Weidel refused the visit completely. After Erdogan's "brazen instrumentalization of the footballer Mesut Özil" after his resignation from the German national team "there is not the slightest reason" for an invitation. Erdogan had said after the resignation, he had phoned Özil and welcome the decision of the player.

Andrea Nahles defended the planned visit as well as Maas. The SPD leader pointed out that in Germany state guests "from all over the world" would receive. "That should be normal in Germany in the future," she said on her summer trip to Bavaria. When asked if it would be better for Erdogan to come to a simple working visit, she reacted evasively. "These are decisions that move outside of my vicious circle," said the party leader, who does not belong to the federal government.

DPA

Andrea Nahles

Erdogan was re-elected as president in June and now has more authority due to a constitutional reform. Most recently he was in Germany a year ago, at the G20 summit in Hamburg. Mustafa Yeneroglu, a member of Erdogan's AK Party, spoke in favor of addressing critical issues on both sides' visit. "It is only important that both sides remain constructive and look ahead, and we have more in common than dividing," he wrote on Twitter.