By Martin Banks - 18th July 2007
Controversial Polish MEP Maciej Giertych has caused an outcry after allegedly comparing German chancellor Angela Merkel to Hitler.
It was claimed he said that Merkel, in trying to revive the European constitution, shares the Nazi leader’s ambition of dominating Europe.
Speaking to theParliament.com on Thursday, Giertych stood by his comments, which appeared on a website as part of an article about German history.
Claiming that he had been misquoted, he said, “After over three years as an MEP, I suppose I should be used to this by now.”
In the article, which appears in Polish,71-year-old Giertych said that “for over 1,000 years, Germany has tried to find a way of dominating Europe.”
He mentions various German political figures and leaders during this period, including Hitler.
The Polish League of Families MEP goes on to say that, unlike Hitler, Merkel has not used force, but a degree of “cunning”, in trying to resurrect the constitution rejected in 2005 by French and Dutch voters.
“There is no direct comparison between Hitler and Merkel. The quotes have been taken completely out of context. This has been done by the media in yet another attempt to discredit me,” he told this website.
Responding to the alleged remarks, MEP Dariusz Rosati, a former Polish foreign minister, was reported as saying, "Mr Giertych is in serious need of medical care."
It is not the first time the MEP, who entered parliament as an Independence/Democracy member but is now non-aligned, has attracted the headlines.
In March, he was reprimanded by the assembly’s president, Hans-Gert Poettering, for publishing a booklet in which he describes Jewish people as a “tragic community”.
He was also criticised for praising former Spanish dictator General Francisco Franco.
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