Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan displays populism in his statements about the European Union (EU).

Polish turkologist and Caucasus Studies specialist Konrad Zasztowt, who is an analyst at the Polish Institute of International Affairs, told the aforesaid to Polskie Radio 24, and commenting on Turkey’s parliamentary elections slated for June 7.

In his words, in the mid-2000s, Turkey’s EU membership talks met an impasse at the fault of both parties. But, subsequently, authoritarianism began to grow in Turkey.

As per Zasztowt, Erdogan wants to convince his voters that the EU keeps Turkey at bay solely because it is a Muslim country.

“Erdogan is often inclined to populism, and in this case, he repeats what ordinary Turks think,” the analyst noted. “Cultural and civilizational matters remain in the background.”