Diana Riba calls out whitewashing in the EU

EFA MEP Diana Riba i Giner intervened in plenary to highlight the threatening rise of the far-right movements in Europe, and how they penetrated in our society. 

Diana used the recent elections results in Italy where the far-right party of Fratelli d’Italia won the national elections, as well as the experiences in Spain, to illustrate how frequent and easily these parties can come into power. Emphasising on the Spanish reality, MEP Riba highlighted the alliances between VOX and the Spanish EPP. 

“In Italy we see how the extreme right will govern with the invaluable support of Berlusconi's party, a member of the EPP. In Spain, the Popular Party, again, EPP, opens the doors of regional governments to Vox, a party that does not condemn Francoism,which is anti-European and allied with Putin, and preaches a xenophobic and misogynist ideology.” 

MEP Diana Riba defied the compliance of the European EPP when it comes to taking a stand against these movements.  “And in the face of this whitewashing of fascism, we only hear the thunderous silence of the EPP.” she said. 

Diana took the opportunity to call out the comments from Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission last week where he compared Europe to a “garden” and the rest of the world to a “jungle” and how such a metaphors exude “intolerable supremacism.”

Diana Riba i Giner, EFA MEP concluded by inviting everyone to take a stand in the face of intolerance. 

“Combating this phenomenon is a collective cause that challenges all of us democrats. And which obliges us to respond with a courageous proposal based on inclusion, equality and the common good.”