German parliament’s Turkish VP calls on immigrants to get involved in politics

World 12:36 28.10.2021

The German parliament’s new vice president has called on the country’s young immigrants to get involved in politics to make their voices heard and shape their future, Yeni Safak reports. 

German-Turkish politician Aydan Ozoguz said her election as the vice president of Bundestag shows that politicians with immigration backgrounds can also become successful in politics and reach top positions in the country.

“In the past, many immigrants felt like they were treated unfairly. Many of them thought they can never hold important positions, just because they were from immigrant families,” she told Anadolu Agency after the vote in parliament on Tuesday.

Ozoguz said many young talented immigrants did not take part in political life due to their mistrust, but stressed it was wrong.

“I have been telling young people that if they step up, if they work towards their goals, they will be successful in getting the positions they deserve. I believe that with this election result, we were able to show this again,” she said.

The 54-year-old politician has become the first ethnic Turkish politician to hold such a key position in national politics.

Ozoguz said she is proud of being elected to such an important position, and expressed hope that this will further help strengthen immigrant participation, and diversity in democratic politics.

The Social Democrat politician successfully garnered support from across the political spectrum in the Bundestag, and her candidacy was also backed by the environmentalist Greens, the pro-business Free Democrats, and the conservative Christian Democrats.

However, the lawmakers of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) opposed her.

Ozoguz said she is aware of the AfD’s stance against her, but expressed hope that they will change their attitude in the coming days.

“It is clear that AfD lawmakers did not vote for me. But after the elections, the AfD’s parliamentary group chief Bernd Baumann congratulated me for being elected,” she said.

Ozoguz has been a federal lawmaker since 2009, and is widely seen as one of the most experienced politicians in her party.

In 2013, she became the first Turkish and Muslim politician serving as a minister in a federal government. Until 2018, she was the state minister for immigration, refugees, and integration.

Germany’s 3 million-strong Turkish community is one of the largest ethnic groups in the country, but has long been underrepresented in political life and in the Bundestag.

In the country’s national elections last month, 18 politicians with Turkish roots were elected to the 735-seat Bundestag, raising hopes for enhancing immigrant democratic participation in Germany.

IEPF issued a statement regarding Azerbaijani children at the UN Human Rights Council

News line

Spain voices concern over Iran's suspension of cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog
23:35 03.07.2025
Pope Leo can play important role in improving US-North Korea ties, says Cardinal Lazzaro You
23:00 03.07.2025
UN rapporteur on occupied Palestinian territory says accountability needed over killings of aid-seekers in Gaza
22:35 03.07.2025
Gaza ceasefire proposal calls for release of 10 Israeli hostages, includes US assurances to end war Report
22:00 03.07.2025
Australian man dies from 'extremely rare' bat bite virus
21:30 03.07.2025
Armenia restarts constitutional reform talks
21:15 03.07.2025
Azerbaijani wrestler crowned European champion
21:00 03.07.2025
Azerbaijani boxer qualifies for World Cup semifinals
20:30 03.07.2025
Liverpool rejects Bayern Munich's approach for Diaz
20:00 03.07.2025
President Ilham Aliyev inspected site designated for Khankandi-Shusha cable car construction
19:35 03.07.2025
Presidents of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan review operations of Businesstex JV sewing factory in Khankandi
19:20 03.07.2025
Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan to attend 17th ECO Summit in Khankendi
19:15 03.07.2025
Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif begins visit to Azerbaijan
19:00 03.07.2025
Cyberattacks on Azerbaijani state bodies slightly rising
18:45 03.07.2025
Height of the Victory Arch in Khankandi to be 44 meters
18:15 03.07.2025
Nigerian minister to attend 17th ECO Summit in Khankandi
18:00 03.07.2025
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrives in Fuzuli district
17:45 03.07.2025
Opening ceremony of Khankandi Congress Center held
17:30 03.07.2025
China ready to sign nuclear-weapon-free zone treaty
17:15 03.07.2025
President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus arrives in Fuzuli district
17:00 03.07.2025
President Ilham Aliyev attends opening of Khankandi Business Center
16:45 03.07.2025
Turkish president to visit Khankandi on July 4
16:30 03.07.2025
Iran calls negotiations with European countries 'meaningless'
16:15 03.07.2025
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev receives Deputy Chairman of Turkmenistan’s Cabinet of Ministers in Khankandi
16:00 03.07.2025
Scorching European heatwave turns deadly in Spain, Italy and France
15:45 03.07.2025
National Defense University hosts training as part of NATO programme
15:30 03.07.2025
3 killed, 16 injured in mass shooting at Chicago nightclub
15:20 03.07.2025
China is not US, and challenges to Europe won’t come from Beijing: Top diplomat
15:15 03.07.2025
Russia restricts access to Azerbaijani news websites
15:00 03.07.2025
2 killed, 11 injured in Russian strikes in Ukraine's Poltava
14:45 03.07.2025
Trump may arm Israel with US B-2s, bunker busters
14:30 03.07.2025
Foundation stone laid for Khankandi Railway and Bus Terminal Complex
14:20 03.07.2025
Baku, Kabul mull development of Lapis Lazuli corridor
14:15 03.07.2025
Azerbaijani deputy FM mulls areas of cooperation with Afghan counterpart
14:00 03.07.2025
Israeli president receives new ambassador to Azerbaijan
13:50 03.07.2025
5US lifts chip software curbs on China amid trade truce
13:45 03.07.2025
Tajikistan and Saudi Fund for Development set to expand project financing
13:30 03.07.2025
S. Korean President vows to improve relations with N. Korea based on cooperation with US
13:10 03.07.2025
Politico: Ukraine expects Europe to buy weapons for it from US
13:00 03.07.2025
State Department: Bringing Russia-Ukraine war to end remains Trump's priority
12:45 03.07.2025
Hamısı