By Martin Banks & Brian Johnson - 8th January 2007
A new parliamentary far-right political group, expected to be launched at next week’s Strasbourg plenary, has been branded a “grotesque” bunch of extreme right-wingers.
The new caucus will bring together about 20 MEPs from at least six countries and is expected to include one member from Bulgaria’s extreme Ataka party, which campaigns against gypsies and Turks, and five from Romania’s anti-Semitic Greater Romanian party.
Other possible members include Alessandra Mussolini, granddaughter of the Italian former fascist leader Benito, and the ultra-Catholic League of Polish Families.
By establishing a formal group, the extreme right will benefit from greater EU funding.
Bruno Gollnisch, a French MEP and deputy leader of Jean-Marie Le Pen’s National Front, is set to lead the new group, expected to be named either Europe of the Fatherlands or Identity, Sovereignty, Tradition.
Austrian MEP Andreas Moelzer, who has spearheaded efforts to form the group, said “it’s pretty much watertight and we’ve already got a common programme”.
But Socialist group leader Martin Schulz branded the group as a “grotesque” bunch of extreme right wingers.
“This motley crew of MEPs will sit where they belong – on the fringes of the parliament,” the German deputy said.
“Having an international group of ultra-nationalists such as this is a grotesque idea and we shall monitor their activities very closely.”
Liberal group MEP Chris Davies added: In the sense that it is good to know who your enemy is, I welcome this new group.”
“I say let them join together rather than be dispersed in other mainstream groups which seek to avoid the extreme views to which they pander.”
British Conservative MEP James Elles, one of the European parliament’s longest-serving deputies, said “They have nothing in common with the mainstream groups mostly represented in parliament and have no particular constructive role to play.”
Meanwhile Anti-racism group the European network against racism (ENAR) has called on MEPs to refuse to work with members of the proposed new group.
ENAR wants parliament deputies to boycott the far-right group, and publicly back a commitment to tackle racism signed by the parliament’s main political groups in 2001.
The parliament’s EPP, Socialist, Liberal and Green groups all are all signatories to the charter of European parties for a non-racist society.
According to ENAR the charter explicitly states that signatories “refrain from any form of political alliance or cooperation at all levels with any political party which incites or attempts to stir up racial or ethnic prejudices and racial hatred.”
“The rise of the far-right in Europe represents the institutionalisation of growing prejudice and anti-minority sentiment; we cannot allow such views to become a legitimate political voice,” warned ENAR’s Bashy Quraishy.
“At a time when Europe has still not adopted an effective instrument against racist crime and hate speech, the European parliament must demonstrate leadership and political courage”.
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