DBild am Sonntag says it has a statement about the founding of a “Turkish Islamist party” called DAVA (Democratic Alliance for Diversity and Awakening). Four men are named as the top candidates for the European elections who are said to have previously worked for President Erdoğan's Islamic-conservative ruling party AKP or its support organizations.

Politicians from several parties in Germany have expressed concern about the possible creation of a branch of the Turkish AKP party for the upcoming European elections. The SPD chairwoman Saskia Esken said on Sunday Welt-TV: “For me it is important that we make it clear to our fellow citizens of Turkish origin in Germany that Germany belongs together, that we are one people, that we will not allow that forces like these right-wing extremist networks are now coming close to power and want to deport migrants, but of course the divisive tendencies of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan must not play a role here either.”

Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) wrote on the X platform (formerly Twitter) on Sunday: “An Erdoğan offshoot running for elections here is the last thing we need.”

Union parliamentary group vice-president Jens Spahn (CDU) warned on the platform

The CDU interior expert Christoph de Vries told “Bild am Sonntag” that the federal government should “under no circumstances take this party founding lightly.” It is urgent that the security authorities closely monitor all activities of this party and its connections to the Turkish government and intervene if the Turkish government exerts direct influence.