International

SP Members of the European Parliament today joined colleagues in the United European Left Group (GUE-NGL) in voting against the Weber Report on the treatment of immigrants or, in the EU jargon 'on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals'. Protests against the report, including a demonstration by left politicians in front of the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, in the end failed to convince the parliament to reject the draconian plans, which will allow undocumented immigrants to be locked up for 18 months.

Jan Marijnissen, SP Group Leader since the party first entered the national parliament in 1994, has resigned his post as leader. Jan, who will continue to exercise a leadership role in the broader party, as well as remaining an MP, made the announcement at a press conference this morning. “I have done the job with great pleasure for fourteen years, but the time has come to make way for a successor,” he said. “This is the best moment for that.”