International

Last Friday the Turkish army attempted to effect a coup d’état to bring about the fall of the government. The coup failed, but the consequences for the country are huge. President Erdogan reacted with mass arrests, and with the suspension and sacking of tens of thousands of judges, civil servants, academics and others. Opposition news sites have been blocked and journalists’ press cards removed. Moreover, military personnel who carried out the coup have been severely maltreated. There has even been talk of reintroducing the death penalty. Meanwhile, tensions in the Netherlands are rising. Five questions to SP Member of Parliament Sadet Karabulut on the events of the past week.

SP leader Emile Roemer reacted with shock to the attack in Nice. “On the day that France celebrated the country's freedom, freedom was attacked,” he said. “A terrible event for all the victims, their families and the entire French people. This is an attack on everyone who wants to live in freedom. We share the sorrow of the French people, but together we must also do all we can to combat this terrorist violence.”