Parliament to vote on investigation into ESN party following alleged hate speech incidents
ESN
Next Tuesday, on the initiative of the Greens/EFA Group, the European Parliament will vote on a motion on the far-right ESN party. Representatives of the ESN party are accused of making racist, homophobic, and antisemitic statements, which violate fundamental European values. The European Parliament will vote in Strasbourg on whether the European party should be subject to a review by the Brussels-based Authority for European Political Parties and European Political Foundations.
If the procedure against the ESN succeeds, the party would no longer receive EU funding. However, the work of the ESN group in the European Parliament - which includes members of the rightwing-extremist AfD, would remain unaffected, as the ESN party is legally separate from the ESN group.
Daniel Freund MEP, Greens/EFA Group Member of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs who initiated the motion, comments:
“There is strong evidence that the AfD’s European party, the ESN, is in breach of the EU's core values. Racism, homophobia and antisemitism have no place in Europe and anyone who peddles hate speech must not be allowed to receive a single cent of EU money.
“We are pushing for an urgent investigation into any potential use of hate speech by ESN party representatives. We have taken the first step and the required signatures for a vote next week are in place. Now, the European Parliament must decide if the ESN should face a detailed review.
“The Parliament must take action to ensure that those who break the rules are not rewarded with millions in taxpayer money. Anything less is tantamount to giving a free pass to those on the far-right who wish to push the language of division and hate.”
More:
The motion required 180 signatures to proceed - more than 200 MEPs from the democratic groups have signed it, clearing the first hurdle. A simple majority is needed for the vote to pass.
European parties are umbrella organizations made up of national parties. They receive EU budget funding to coordinate election campaigns, develop manifestos, and promote political education.
