Pro-Turkey Schulz becomes EP President

German politician Martin Schulz who supports Turkey's EU accession "sincerely" yet strongly criticizes it with regard to human rights, freedom of thought and expression has become the new president of the European Parliament with 387 votes that he has gained at the EP General Assembly in Strasbourg. Schulz, who has been an EP parliamentarian since 1994 and leader of the Socialist Group for the last two years, is among the European politicians closely following Turkey. Schulz also harshly criticizes particularly his country's policy towards Turkey and strongly reacts to Chancellor Merkel's advocacy of a "privileged status instead of membership." Hannes Swoboda who is also known in Turkey has replaced Schulz's seat of S&D Presidency.