President Tajani's comments on Mussolini
Quotes from Ska Keller and Philippe Lamberts
On the news that President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani made comments praising the fascist dictator of Italy, Benito Mussolini, President of the Greens/EFA group, Ska Keller comments:
"The statements made by the President of the European Parliament are unworthy and absolutely unacceptable. Antonio Tajani must withdraw his trivialisation of fascism or resign as President of the European Parliament."
"As President of the Parliament he must be the first defender of European values; Mussolini's fascism is for sure not part of this. Already before the war Mussolini had abolished freedom of press and the right to strike. He put in place a dictatorship and dissolved the Parliament. The words of Tajani insult the memory of Italians who suffered under Mussolini's regime and he needs to retract his statements."
President of the Greens/EFA group Philippe Lamberts adds:
"It is not the first time that Tajani flirts with the far-right in his words. It is also not the first time that he abuses his role as President of the European Parliament to campaign in national Italian politics. As President of the European Parliament, Tajani must respect his role to represent the house and not one particular party."