Pöttering condemns violent attack on Irish MEP Proinsias De Rossa

Source: European parliament press service

Date published: April 16 2008

Parliament president Hans-Gert Pöttering has strongly condemnedthe assault ON Tuesday evening in Dublin on Irish MEP Proinsias DeRossa by a group of anti-Lisbon Treaty protesters.

"The knocking to the ground and assault of our Europeanparliament colleague Proinsias De Rossa is an attack on freedom ofspeech and the right and duty of elected parliamentarians topresent their views in public.

During my visit to Dublin last week, I appealed before the IrishSenate for a calm and reasoned Lisbon Treaty referendum campaign.This thuggish attack on an Irish MEP should be denounced by allself-respecting democrats.

Everybody has the right to freely express his or her views. Inthe context of the Irish referendum campaign, both sides of theargument need to be heard and the Irish public will make up itsmind.

Attacks like the one on Mr De Rossa are an attack on thefundamental values of the EU which are enshrined in the LisbonTreaty - values such as democracy, tolerance and freedom ofspeech."

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