Brussels, 04/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - As the fourth group at the European Parliament, just behind the Liberal group (53 MEPs) and the two largest groups EPP-DE and the PES, the European United Left-Nordic Green Left now counts 50 MEPs, after four French MEPs joined them: Gérard Caudron, expelled from the PES after his "divorce" with the French PS, as well as Sami Naïr (MDC), Michel Dary (ex-PRG) and Michel-Ange Scarbonchi (ex-PRG), who left the PES after having supported Jean-Pierre Chevènement during the Presidential elections in France.
Mr Caudron explained in a press statement that after he was expelled form the PES group at the request of the French Socialist Party and a week as a "non-aligned" in Strasbourg, he decided to join the GUE/NGL Confederal Group of the European United Left / Nordic Green Left at the European Parliament under the wing of the Left Republican, Radical and Citizen's section. He described his objective, as a convinced and realistic European and member of the GUE/NGL group and its leading bodies, was to help strengthen the left wing pole and make it more attractive and diverse, as well as a partner to those in other groups who shared the same worries, values and especially the same objectives.