Brussels, 12/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - The president of the Party of European Socialists (PES), Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, has been highly critical of “racist” remarks made by Horst Seehofer, German CSU leader. He has also called on the European People's Party (EPP) to distance itself from these statements and to “get its house in order”. The Bavarian CSU, the little brother of the CDU headed by Chancellor Angela Merkel, is a member of the EPP. Seehofer said “immigrants belonging to other cultures, for example in Turkey or in Arab countries generally speaking, find it more difficult” to integrate western society. “My conclusion”, Seehofer said, “is that we, in Germany, do not need more immigration from other cultures”. “From racist politicians to unpalatable coalitions, it is clear that the EPP must urgently get its house in order”, Rasmussen said. The PES leader also considers it “imperative” for the president of the EPP, Wilfried Martens, to condemn Seehofer's remarks outright. (H.B./transl.jl)