Brussels, 02/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - The political groups in the European Parliament were unable to prevent the formation of Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty, the new far-right political group (see EUROPE 9341). The “cordon sanitaire” that was called for by Martin Schhulz has, however, allowed them to oust the ITS group candidates from the two deputy chairman posts which it was due under the D'Hondt system.
ITS put forward the Romanian Viorica-Pompilia-Georgeta Moisuc and the Italian Luca Romagnoli for the posts of first deputy chairperson in the culture and education committee and third deputy chairperson in the transport and tourism committee respectively. Following informal contacts prior to the constituative meetings of the Parliamentary committees, the EP's main groups agreed to put forward alternative candidates: Pál Schmitt (EPP-ED, Hungary), for the culture committee, and Silvia Ticau (PES, Romania). These two were elected instead of the ITS candidates in the only two secret ballot votes that were held. All the other committee officials were agreed by show of hands (see EUROPE 9357).
Mario Borghezio (UEN, Italy) said in a press release that the exclusion of the ITS group candidates was a “shameful” deed. He saw it as the dangerous action of the “thought police”, which ran counter to the internal rules of the European Parliament. (mb)