President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has harshly criticized the European Union's double standard on press freedom and free speech on Saturday, three days after the European parliament passed a resolution against 'Russian propaganda'.
Speaking at an inauguration ceremony in Istanbul, Erdoğan said that the EU has displayed how harsh and threatful it can be with the passed resolution, when it comes to its own favors.
The European Parliament on Wednesday adopted a non-legislative resolution against anti-EU propaganda propagated by Russia and terrorist groups such as Daesh and Al-Qaeda.
Erdoğan also said that Turkey could extend the state of emergency due in January by at least another three months, which has been in place since the failed July coup.
He also criticized the non-binding motion approved by the European Parliament for the suspension of Turkey's accession talks, which had criticized the state of emergency.
"Maybe the state of emergency will be extended by three months and then maybe another three months," he said. "This is a decision for the government and the parliament."
"What's it to you?" he told the European Parliament.
"Is the European Parliament in charge of this country or is the government in charge of this country?"
He noted that France had also put in place a state of emergency after it was hit by a string of Daesh attacks in 2015 and accused the European Parliament of hypocrisy.
"Are you not aware that you are aiding and abetting terrorism?" he told the European Parliament.
Erdoğan had on Friday rattled the European Union by threatening to tear up an agreement that has substantially reduced the flow of illegal migrants to Europe this year.
In his latest speech, he again said he would to sign into law any bill voted by parliament to bring back capital punishment, whose abolition is a key condition of EU membership.
"I am not going to take a decision based on what Hans says, or what George says," he said. "I answer to the people."
"If the people want capital punishment, it goes to parliament. If parliament says yes, I will sign it. Isn't democracy the national will?"
