A few days ahead of the EU elections, Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens seem to be well positioned to attract the vote of the country's large ethnic Turkish electorate. But the recent resignation of two popular ethnic Turkish politicians may have an impact on how they vote in the German general elections in September, EurActiv Turkey reports.

On 4 May, SPD Berlin Deputy Secretary Canan Bayram  resigned from her post and left the party only to join the Greens a few days later, causing a public stir in the Turkish community.

Explaining her move, Bayram said the SPD was not pushing hard enough for policies which would ensure equal opportunities. "There are not enough women in top management and I was not taken seriously. Besides, the party does not pay enough attention to gender equality legislation," she said.

Before the storm had settled, another Berlin-based politician of Turkish descent quit the Greens to join the SPD. Bilkay Öney resigned from her party on 14 May and switched to SDP the next day.