By Martin Banks - 30th September 2009
The reasons are complex and varied
Martin Schulz
The leader of parliament's socialist group has admitted that Socialism is in "deep crisis" across Europe.
The comments, by Martin Schulz, come in the wake of the drubbing socialists received in the German federal elections at the weekend.
Schulz, himself a German MEP, said their defeat to Angela Merkel represents a further setback to the Socialist "family".
The defeat for the Social Democrats (SPD) was their worst result in 60 years and follows a similar electoral setback for Socialist parties right across Europe in June's European elections.
Speaking to this website, Schulz, who leads the socialist group in parliament, said it would have been normal to think that the current downturn would have been a perfect time for the socialist and centre-left parties.
"And, yet, so far, the voters have not turned to the left. They did not in Germany on Sunday and nor did they at the European elections," he told this website.
"The reasons are complex and varied but this is something we have clearly got to address," added Schulz, who is expected to become parliament's president in the final half of the current legislature
Meanwhile, Edward McMillan-Scott, who was recently expelled from the UK Tory party, has been barred from attending next week's party conference in Manchester.
The deputy, a vice president of parliament, branded the decision "unfair and petty."
He said, "I have been attending conference for 42 years but have been told I will not be issued with a pass for this year's event. It is very sad."
He incurred the wrath of the party leadership for refusing to stand aside in his bid for re-election as a vice president in favour of Polish deputy Michal Keminski, whom he has branded anti-Semitic.
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