President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has suggested he could take his country to a referendum over its EU bid, which he said has been long-stalled.
“If the European Union continues wasting Turkey’s time in its accession to the union, then the country could hold a referendum over its membership bid,” Erdoğan said at the TRT World Forum on Oct. 4.
“It is better to see this process faster so that Turkey can determine its way. Europeancountries hold referendums twice or thrice a year. One should get used to referendums,” he added.
Asked whether the EU project is nearing its end, Erdogan said: “I also see those signs.”
Turkey has been waiting for membership for decades, the president said.
“We may have many things that we could contribute to the EU and them to us. But if they move with this mindset, what should be done is, I suppose, consult 81 million people [Turkey’s population] and look at what decision they will make,” he said.
He also called for serious reform of the United Nations Security Council, which he said should have representation from countries from all continents of the world. “We need to achieve a United Nations Security Council with the participation of seven continents,” Erdoğan said.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has taken the nation to several elections in recent years, including a referendum to expand the president’s powers and twin parliamentary and presidential elections.
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