Labour deny Le Pen right to open new Parliament

06.05.09

Richard Corbett MEP, Labour’s spokesman on EU Reform, today welcomed a rule change that will prevent French fascist and convicted holocaust denier Jean Marie Le Pen from opening the first session of the European Parliament in July.

The key amendment will mean that the outgoing President of Parliament, instead of the oldest member, will open the constitutive session of the Parliament following the European elections on June 4th.

Richard, who was the Rapporteur responsible for revising Parliament’s internal procedures, said:

“I am relieved that Mr Le Pen will not be opening the Parliament in the next term, but it is common sense that this role should performed by the outgoing President of Parliament”

Pointing out that Le Pen abused his Parliamentary immunity last month by repeating remarks that saw him convicted for Holocaust denial, Richard said:

“As recently as March, Le Pen abused his position as an MEP by repeating disgusting statements that the gas chambers were a mere detail of history, knowing that he was protected by parliamentary privilege”

“This is not about silencing dissent - a rule change isn’t going to shut Le Pen up. The point is that the opening of Parliament is a purely ceremonial occasion, not a free platform for a convicted Holocaust denier to make more outrageous and offensive statements.”