Diplomat called to account for Turkish officials’ comments on Egypt’s elections

The Turkish Charge d'Affaire was summoned by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday in response to statements made by Turkish officials about the Egyptian presidential elections.

The ministry's spokesperson, Badr Abdel Atty, stated earlier that the Turkish diplomat was summoned because Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy found certain statements to be lacking and wrongful.

Deputy Prime Minister Emrullah İşler described the Egyptian presidential elections as “comedic,” and expressed his pessimism regarding the country's future. 

In a meeting with members of the European Union on Tuesday, Fahmy said that Egypt wouldn't allow anyone to interfere in its internal affairs, adding that national decisions would remain independent of any foreign influence.

Last November, Egypt downgraded its diplomatic ties with Turkey by retracting its ambassador from Turkey. A charge d'affaire enjoys the same diplomatic immunity and privilege as an ambassador, but at a lower level.

Relations between the two countries have been turbulent since the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi and the violent dispersal of the Nahda and Rabea pro-Morsi sit-ins last August.

Officials from both sides have recurrently exchanged strongly worded statements.