A movement close to President Erdogan's AKP candidate for the European elections in Germany

In Germany, 35 parties and organizations will be competing for the European elections in June. Apart from established movements, other more modest ones will present candidates. Some are new, such as a party which addresses the – very large – community of Turkish origin in Germany. 

An estimated 1.5 million people of Turkish origin are registered to vote in Germany. (Photo by Ralph Orlowski/Getty Images)

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Dava, for “Democratic Alliance for Diversity and Renewal”. This is the name of this organization launched at the beginning of the year in

Germany

. “Da’wa” is also a term which, for Islam, is synonymous with “mission” to non-Muslims. 

The leaders of the new movement are close to the AKP of Turkish President Erdogan, who, in the last presidential election, obtained two thirds of the votes cast among his fellow citizens in Germany. The launch of Dava was criticized by many politicians. The movement's program emphasizes the defense of Islam which would be attacked, the strengthening of traditional values ​​and for a strong social state. Dava also exploits the anger of many Muslims due to the situation in Gaza, reports our correspondent in Berlin,

Pascal Thibaut

.

“

We are not an emanation of the AKP, we are not the armed wing of Erdogan

,” insists Fatih Zingal, one of its founding members, interviewed by AFP, in response to persistent suspicions of a proximity to the ruling party in Turkey. The Turkish president is very popular among this diaspora, and Ankara's perceived attempts to gain influence in German domestic affairs have long caused concern. In any case, the German press has already nicknamed Dava “ 

Erdogan’s party

 ”.

Unsuccessful precedents

The community of Turkish or Muslim origin in Germany numbers several million people. Most are descendants of workers who came to fill labor shortages in the 1960s and 1970s. About half of them only have Turkish passports, the others only have German nationality.

The voting method in Germany for the European elections, where the 5% bar to obtain seats for the legislative elections is not valid, can allow small parties to win one or two seats in the European Parliament.

Experts, however, doubt whether such a movement will take root on the German political scene. Other organizations with a similar profile have never been able to break through in the past and have remained small groups without political weight.  

Also read: When Germany trains its own imams

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