Brussels, 24/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - An MEP from the British UKip party, Godfrey Bloom, was excluded from the European parliament plenary session debate on Wednesday 24 November, by the president of the parliament, Jerzy Buzek. Bloom had shouted out loud, “Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer!” whilst addressing the president of the Socialist Group, Martin Schulz, from Germany. His vociferous interjection was probably due to Germany's involvement in the draconian conditions imposed on Ireland in exchange for the European financial aid that it will be receiving.
This behaviour was firmly condemned by the main political groups at the EP. In a joint press statement, Joseph Daul (EPP, France), Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE, Belgium), Rebecca Harms and Daniel Cohn-Bendit (Greens/EFA, Germany), Micha³ Kamiñski (ECR, Poland) and Lothar Bisky (GUE/NGL, Germany) declared: “We can never accept that Members of the European Parliament insult their colleagues in a way that recalls the worst hours of our history.” “In this time of serious economic and social crisis affecting the whole of the European Union, solidarity and dignity are more than ever needed from the representatives of the peoples of Europe”. They are calling on President Buzek to impose a maximum penalty on the offending MEP. (M.B./transl.fl)