EP Rejects Patriots for Europe Group’s Resolution Condemning Political Violence

The Patriots for Europe Group (PfE) in the EP initiated a debate and resolution to condemn political violence, including the attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump, the current presidential candidate. However, the Parliament ultimately voted against it, according to Kinga Gál, the group’s first vice-president, who spoke in Strasbourg.

At a press conference, Ms. Gál accused the EP of failing to address widespread political violence in Europe, citing the attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and the case of Antifa activist Ilaria Salis. Ms. Salis, arrested in Budapest, is accused of nearly killing an innocent man and is now sitting in the EP, “lecturing us on how to behave,” the PfE’s vice-president remarked.

Kinga Gál criticized the recent EP vote on vice-presidencies, calling it disrespectful to the 18 million voters behind the Patriots for Europe group.

She expressed dissatisfaction that neither of the two candidates from the EP’s third-largest group, Klara Dostalova and Fabrice Leggeri, received enough votes. “The fact that the European Parliament have elected a practically extremist communist to the posts the PfE deserve, with the help of the European People’s Party (EPP), is unacceptable,” Ms. Gál said, hinting at possible legal action.

We must fight for what we deserve under parliamentary rules,” she added.

The Patriots for Europe issued a political declaration condemning all forms of political violence, referencing recent incidents in Europe and the US. The statement emphasized that assassination attempts on US presidential candidate Donald Trump and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico must not go unpunished. “We find unacceptable the conniving silence of left-wing political forces and the legitimization of acts of violence against patriotic politicians,” Kinga Gál said in a Facebook post. She demanded respect for political opponents and fair treatment from the media.

Ms. Gál rejected the European left’s practice of labeling political rivals as far-right and making shameful pacts, calling it a violation of democracy and the rule of law. “We strongly condemn all forms of violence against political actors and call on left-wing, globalist parties to respect the political choices and opinions of all voters and to stop demonizing parties and politicians who do not adhere to the narratives of the European left,” she stated, adding that

their intolerance is the basis for politically motivated violence and threatens our democratic institutions.”

According to EP minutes, the Patriots for Europe’s initiative to condemn political violence was rejected by 339 votes, with 119 in favor and 15 abstaining. The Tisza Party’s MEPs, including vice-president Péter Magyar, also abstained from the vote.

Via MTI; Featured Image: Facebook / Donald J. Trump