Luxembourg, 12/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - Marco Pannella MEP has asked the European Court of First Instance (CFI) to annul the decision of the College of Quaestors of the European Parliament which refused to excuse his absence from a Parliamentary session in January 2000 whereas, according to him, he had a valid excuse.
Marco Pannella had to appear - on those days - before Italian judges as defendant in the framework of his political actions in view of the de-criminalisation of soft drugs. According to him, the right of defence before a court is a valid reason in the same way as those provided for in Parliament's rules of procedure and which are illness, missions and serious family circumstances. Marco Pannella considers that his appearance before the Italian court was an extension of his political action relating to drugs.