GUE/NGL MEP Dimitrios Papadimoulis has condemned the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) after it unsuccessfully tried to get a debate on SYRIZA's coalition government added to next week's Strasbourg plenary agenda.

He said: “The European People's Party, a group led by Manfred Weber from the Bavarian CDU and home to New Democracy, sought to have a plenary debate and adopt a relevant resolution on the 'rise of extremism in Europe, especially regarding the coalition government in Greece'. This was proven totally fruitless and backfired on the EPP as all other political groups unanimously rejected the proposal expressing their confidence in the democratic institutions in Greece and the need for sustaining a climate of dialogue and concert in the European context.

“This move by the EPP follows the failed terror campaign which was unleashed by New Democracy during the pre-election period in Greece, when, among others, its President himself made extreme xenophobic statements. Moreover, such statements are particularly hypocritical given that in the not so distant past New Democracy has itself cooperated at government level with the far-right Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) party, well-known for its extreme and xenophobic positions.”

Papadimoulis added: “Europe will always keep alive the memory of the bloody and racist dimension of its past. Today, Europe is building its future on the basis of reconciliation and cooperation among its constituent nations. The European perspective of SYRIZA includes the exorcism of racist and xenophobic tendencies and considers that the European Parliament must jointly face this challenge with moral courage and political integrity.”

GUE/NGL Press Contacts:
Emily Macintosh +32 470 85 05 08
Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20
European United Left / Nordic Green Left
European Parliamentary Group