Today, during the mini plenary session in Brussels, the European Parliament held a joint debate with the Council and the Commission on the new allegations of Russian interference in the European Parliament, mainly concerning the upcoming EU elections in June and the potential impact on the Union.
During the debate, S&D President Iratxe García called on European Parliament president Roberta Metsola to launch an investigation into Russian interference. In addition, García has urged the European People’s Party (EPP) to state clearly at last whether or not they intend to sit on the side of the extreme right.
Iratxe García, S&D President, said:
“Two months ahead of the EP elections, Putin’s regime is stepping up its spying, disinformation and propaganda, as well as its attacks against all dissenting voices. Those elections will be key for the future of the European project, including our unwavering support to Ukraine in its fight against Putin’s tyranny.
“This is why we are calling for a thorough investigation into Russian interference in accordance with what the plenary of this House called for last February. Because our duty is to ensure free and fair elections for our citizens.
“We know that interfering in elections is one of Putin’s main objectives and we also know that he has strong allies in Europe – the extreme right of Le Pen, Orbán, Wilders, Salvini and Weidel. Faced with this double threat, the European People's Party must decide if they are going to uphold their pledges to support a pro-European, pro-Ukrainian stance or if they will bow to the extreme right and Putin.
“The EPP, who apparently call for freedom in Europe, are those who pact with the far right – the same far right who are silent about imprisonment, torture, Putin’s massacre in Ukraine and his actions against gender equality policies, sexual and reproductive rights and the LGTBIQ+ community.
“And to citizens, it must be clear what is at stake from 9 June: the Europe of the right and extreme right that goes backwards and is a slave to its past or the Europe of the social democrats that goes forward and owns its future.”
