Scrolli - MEP Dario Nardella: 'Social democrats are Europe’s heart'

MEP Dario Nardella:

'Social democrats are Europe’s heart'

By Ahmetcan Uzlaşık

As Europe watches Türkiye's political tensions deepen, European Parliament MEP of Socialists and Democrats and former Florence Mayor Dario Nardella has become one of the most outspoken defenders of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu. A Social Democrat and close ally to mayors like Ekrem İmamoğlu, Nardella was in Istanbul recently, and is set to return, amid rising concerns about the Turkish government's crackdown on opposition voices. In this conversation with Scrolli, he shares unfiltered reflections on President Erdoğan, the EU’s inaction, far-right alliances, and the path Türkiye must take toward EU integration.

How do you see the current political situation in Türkiye, particularly regarding the arrest of opposition leaders like Ekrem İmamoğlu?

The political situation is very challenging, particularly after the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu one and a half months ago. The most important aspect is the demonstrations of the Turkish people. I think Erdoğan underestimated the reaction of the people after the arrest, which represents an explosion, not just in Türkiye but also in Europe. On the international side, Erdoğan has increased his relations with leaders like Trump, who just today declared that he wants to collaborate with Erdoğan to solve the crisis in Ukraine. On the European side, President Erdoğan’s meeting with Prime Minister Meloni, obviously, these are examples of the Turkish president trying to increase his image also within his country. The economic situation in Türkiye is very serious, and this is another point the Turkish government is also concerned about.

As a member of the S&D Group in the European Parliament, in your opinion, how should the EU and European Social Democrats position themselves in response to Türkiye’s recent political developments?

The Social Democrats in Europe are supporting Ekrem İmamoğlu, his mission, and his party CHP. I was in Istanbul with the President of the Socialist Party, Stefan Löfven, one month ago. And I will be again in Istanbul on the 24th–25th of May for an important international meeting promoted by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. So, we Social Democrats are supporting any political entity in Türkiye fighting for freedom and the rule of law.

The key issue here is to engage all the European institutions. We already have huge support from the Council of Europe. The question is how to engage the European Commission more strongly. For me, the reaction of the Commission is not enough yet. We need stronger support from Ursula von der Leyen, and we need concrete actions from both the Council of Europe and the Commission.

You participated in a solidarity meeting held in Istanbul’s Maltepe district and met with CHP leaders. What were your observations of the demonstrations and public response?

I have been very impressed. The demonstrations in Maltepe, but also in other cities in Türkiye in the days and weeks after, were not only supported by students but by all segments of society. My impression was that the reaction of Turkish citizens against the anti-democratic escalation by Erdoğan is not just a student movement, it is something larger. In the rallies in Istanbul, I saw people from all social segments: workers, families, women. That is why I consider this movement very, very important to stop President Erdoğan.

You criticized Prime Minister Meloni for meeting with Erdoğan. What does Meloni’s relationship with Erdoğan reveal about the current landscape of European politics?

I saw it as an unacceptable meeting. The EU is Türkiye’s biggest economic partner, and it cannot accept any further steps on economic cooperation without the Turkish government ensuring human rights and the rule of law.

The second most important point is that Prime Minister Meloni is very close to leaders like Hungary’s Orban and newly re-elected President Trump. With these leaders, we see a sovereignist global movement led by Trump, supported by leaders like Orban, Le Pen, and Meloni. President Erdoğan is a part of this global club. That is why Meloni accepted Erdoğan, and that is also why she didn’t say anything about İmamoğlu’s arrest.

Moreover, just these days in Strasbourg, we will vote on Türkiye’s annual report. This report is going to condemn the political situation in Türkiye.

What do Italy–Türkiye military deals and migration cooperation suggest about Brussels’ stance toward Ankara?

The geopolitical side is one of the reasons why the EU has been silent on İmamoğlu’s arrest. However, I mentioned the strong reaction of the Council of Europe. Türkiye already has many sanctions for violating human rights conventions from the Council of Europe. The Commission’s reaction is not enough, and this is also because of the ongoing cooperation on migration. Indeed, Türkiye is one of the countries hosting many immigrants. And the EU has invested a lot of money, more than 10 billion euros, to support Türkiye and keep immigrants in the country. However, that is not a good reason to stay silent.

You previously served as Mayor of Florence and as President of Eurocities. What role can local governments and progressive mayors play in defending democracy today?

The role of mayors is very important, in general, around the world, but particularly in Europe. I remember as President of Eurocities, I was in Istanbul two years ago to support İmamoğlu, because even at that time he had many problems with the national government. It is an example of how mayors actively support their colleagues when needed.

We consider Istanbul like a European capital, which indeed it is, as it is already a part of Eurocities. In addition, Istanbul is a link between Asia and Europe. We will continue to support Ekrem İmamoğlu as local governments across Europe. In Europe, there are many big-city mayors who are very close to İmamoğlu, like the mayors of Paris, Barcelona, and Rome.

Do you think Türkiye can still become a member of the European Union in the future?

I believe in ambitious projects. Türkiye plays a strategic role in the Mediterranean area. Economic relations between Türkiye and the EU are very strong. In addition, Türkiye’s founding father Atatürk led the country toward a path of European values and history.

However, we need a change of power and to overcome the current problems. We need to support all democratic parties to push for a radical change in the political framework. If we reach those achievements, I believe Türkiye will accelerate the process to join the EU, with huge benefits for Turkish citizens.

With Trump’s rise, far-right disinformation, and economic strain, what key challenges do Social Democrats face, and how should they respond?

After the election of Trump, we finally realized the importance of having a stronger Europe, one that is autonomous in defense, energy, and the economy. Trump represented a big shock for the EU. That’s why we have now accelerated the development of a European defense industry, increased military spending, and delivered a new economic deal with the Draghi report on competitiveness for the European market. I believe European Social Democrats now have a huge opportunity, a window we have not seen in the last 20 years. We can push for greater integration and a stronger single market, and we can conclude agreements with other countries and regions, for example, with South America through the Mercosur agreement, and with India and China. Social Democrats could now represent the real heart of Europe.

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