The head of the conservative EVP party family in the European Parliament, Manfred Weber, defended himself against accusations of breaking down the walls against right-wing extremists. “As the European People’s Party in the European Parliament, we have never shaken hands with any right-wing populist, helped them get into office, or helped them function,” Weber said on ZDF on Thursday evening. The EPP had previously voted, along with far-right parties, for an easing of the EU’s supply chain directive, which was met with clear criticism.
Weber accused the EP’s Social Democrats of not supporting a negotiated compromise to relax supply chain directives three weeks ago. “That’s what happened, and it was a shock to the economy.” The vote launched the first major de-bureaucratization package. Weber emphasized that the AfD vote does not determine the majority vote. “That’s why there is no reliance on these radical right-wing forces.”
“I think this is a fatal sign”
SPD leader Bärbel previously sharply criticized Bas Weber. “I think this is a fatal sign that Manfred Weber, as leader of the EPP, consciously did not seek compromise at the center of democracy,” he said. Chancellor and CDU leader Friedrich Merz also reacted quietly to the vote in Strasbourg. According to Merz, he expects that at least in the final vote in the EP after negotiations with member states, there will again be an equal majority of the centrist parties EPP, SPE and Liberals.
