European Parliament president imposes maximum fine on UKIP MEP.
European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek has fined Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party MEPs, €3,000 as punishment for “un-parliamentary and insulting” comments he made about Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council.
Buzek's office confirmed that the president had fined Farage the maximum he could by withholding ten days worth of daily attendance allowances at €300 a day under the Parliament's code of conduct rules.
The fine was imposed hours after Farage refused to apologise formally for his comments, which have been heavily criticised by other MEPs. This was despite a direct request to do so by Buzek.
The outspoken British MEP described Van Rompuy to his face as having “the charisma of a damp rag and the appearance of a low-grade bank clerk,” remarks that Buzek said violated the Parliament's rules of conduct. Farage also labelled Belgium “pretty much a non-country”.
“I cannot accept this sort of behaviour in the European Parliament,” Buzek said, adding that he was “disappointed” by Farage's conduct and his refusal to apologise.
“I defend absolutely Farage's right to disagree about the policy or institutions of the Union, but not to personally insult our guests in the European Parliament or the country from which they may come.”
Buzek added that Farage's verbal attack on Van Rompuy “was inappropriate, un-parliamentary and insulting to the dignity of the house”.
The sanction imposed by Buzek was seen as mild and Farage had expected to face a suspension from the Parliament and a move to get his role as leader of the UKIP delegation taken away.
But Farage was unhappy at the penalty, saying that his right to free speech was “an expensive business in the European Parliament”. He added that he intends to appeal against the sanction.
The British MEP rejected Buzek's claims that his comments were un-parliamentary. “If you compare what happens in the [UK] House of Commons every week, if you compare what goes on in the Australian parliament...this was pretty mild stuff,” Farage said.
“I have been asked to apologise to Herman Van Rompuy, I have been asked to apologise to the European Parliament and I have been asked to apologise to the people of Belgium,” said Farage. “The only people I am going to apologise to is bank clerks the world over.”
The controversial MEP was given a formal reprimand last November for calling Van Rompuy and Catherine Ashton, the EU's foreign policy chief, “political pygmies”.
His critics feared a strong sanction imposed by Buzek would make the anti-EU campaigner a political martyr, aiding his cause to paint the EU as an undemocratic club that muzzles free speech.
Officials in Buzek's office added that they felt Farage attacked Van Rompuy as a way to get British media attention that would help advance his campaign to get a seat in the UK parliament in this year's election.
“We have to be careful with this, because we know Farage is only using this to get more votes in upcoming British elections,” said Belgian centre-right MEP Ivo Belet. “The only thing Farage is trying to do is to bring this place into disrepute.”
