Brussels, 24/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - After his intervention in plenary on the Middle East (see above), Jean-Marie Le Pen wished to hold a press conference at the European Parliament in Brussels, on Wednesday afternoon. This would no doubt have given him an opportunity to explain his remarks about his intention to take France out of the "Europe of Maastricht". Alain Krivine, European member of the revolutionary Communist League, called on those present saying: "In two minutes, a nazi and a fascist is to speak in this room. Boycott him". No-one, however, left the room, which was full to bursting point. It was Mr Le Pen who did not turn up. European National Front members Jean-Claude Martinez and Bruno Gollnisch had to come to explain why he was absent. Mr Martinez said the "reception" prepared for him in such a way that prevented a normal press conference from being held, put him off coming but that he would seek to answer any "technical" questions. "We will hold a press conference before real journalists, not before those seeking to provoke" next Friday at the seat in Saint-Cloud, where it will be seen whether, "in a national framework, security works", went on Mr Gollnisch. He criticised the "laisser-faire" attitude of the European Parliament services.
Several demonstrators were in the room, including British Labour member Glyn Ford, who held a panel that read: "Stop the nazis".