"Le Pen misuses the European Parliament"

"Le Pen misuses the European Parliament"
By Stefan GrobeMeabh McMahon
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MEPs severely criticize anti-European attitudes and laziness of ring-wing-populist members

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The launch of French far-right leader Marine Le Pen's campaign for the European election has been severely criticized by members of the European Parliament.

Speaking to Euronews, some of them took issue with Le Pen's decidedly anti-European stance.

Jo Leinen, a Social Democrat from Germany: "I see it as a huge misuse of parliament's privileges and capacities by those who don't want Europe - why should they make an effort, why should they work here?

They take (their) seats in the Parliament and the parliamentary group (and use them) as a platform for their anti-work and the anti-slogans."

It's worrying to see that there might be more of them in the future, Leinen said.

Le Pen hopes the EU vote will advance a redrawing of France's political map.

“The battle is now between nationalists and globalists,” she said.

Plain wrong, according to Rebecca Harms a Green MEP from Germany:

It is wrong to tell people hysterically that you need to radically change the European Union.

Instead of painting the EU entirely in black, the pro-European parties should tells voters why they should vote pro-European, Harms said.

Le Pen used the “yellow vest” protests to gain political momentum.

She has publicly sympathised with the ‘yellow vests’—named after the high-visibility jackets they wear—and asked for their support.

Additional sources • Paula Sendin

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