International

I have on a number of occasions in my weeklog been critical of the European Parliament president, German social democrat Martin Schulz. Now, with his interference in the Greek referendum, I have to say enough is enough. Reportedly he even tried to reach agreement with the political establishment in the EP that from now all political groups on the left and right side would be subject to a complete boycott. For the most part, when politicians lose elections, they step down. As Schulz had made the Greek referendum his own, and one which he lost by a large margin, I would say to him: be a democrat and draw your conclusions. Rather Schulzexit than Grexit.

We saw it in the vote on a resolution concerning the treaty with the US, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), that Schulz, entirely off his own bat, postponed. And now this week in Strasbourg we are going to vote after all, Schulz is interfering with the proposals for amendment in order to disguise the divisions in his own political group. The list of examples of his abuses of power is gradually growing longer than the Tour de France.  

As for the Greek referendum, Schulz evidently thought that his YES campaign would terrify the country’s people. The Greeks would bring hell and damnation down on their heads were they to vote NO.  Yet just as was the case with the European Constitution campaign in 2005, people didn’t allow themselves to be intimidated by this kind of power-mad europhile. As president of the European Parliament Schulz would be well-advised to listen to Modern Left parties such as Syriza or the SP, because they express the feelings among the people better than does the political establishment in Brussels. As president, he is supposed to represent all currents. He must himself be aware that he would really like to become the boss of the whole of Europe, but fortunately there are moments such as today when ordinary people rise in revolt. That’s good for democracy in Europe. Let Schulz accept the consequences and resign.