With Britain preparing to leave, Russia making threats and the United States giving it the cold shoulder, the European Union needs all the friends it can get. But the bloc turned on itself on Tuesday when Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, tore into another branch of the body, the European Parliament. “You are ridiculous” Mr. Juncker said, after bashing the microphones in front of him.
Mr. Juncker, who leads the executive arm of the European Union, said he was miffed that only about 30 of the 751 members of the legislative body were present on Tuesday morning for a meeting at the legislature’s headquarters in Strasbourg, France. Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, or Emmanuel Macron, the French president, been in attendance, he lamented, “it would have been a full house”. Antonio Tajani, the normally mild-mannered president of the Parliament, interjected. “Mr. President, I would ask you please to change your language” he said, his face stiff with anger. “We are not ridiculous please, please”
That entreaty did little to restrain Mr. Juncker, who insisted on a bigger crowd for his appearances in the future. “I will never again attend a meeting of this kind” he thundered. The no-shows might also have been a sign of disrespect for Joseph Muscat, the prime minister of tiny Malta, who like Mr. Juncker spoke at the Parliament on Tuesday but who held his tongue during the sharp exchange. Mr. Tajani may have been furious at public criticism which was live-streamed on the web but Mr. Juncker’s argument, even if appeared self-absorbed, has some validity. Lawmakers at the European Parliament will turn out for debates on hot topics like Britain’s plans to withdraw from the union, known as Brexit, and the future of the European Union at large.
Mr. Juncker, who leads the executive arm of the European Union, said he was miffed that only about 30 of the 751 members of the legislative body were present on Tuesday morning for a meeting at the legislature’s headquarters in Strasbourg, France. Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, or Emmanuel Macron, the French president, been in attendance, he lamented, “it would have been a full house”. Antonio Tajani, the normally mild-mannered president of the Parliament, interjected. “Mr. President, I would ask you please to change your language” he said, his face stiff with anger. “We are not ridiculous please, please”
That entreaty did little to restrain Mr. Juncker, who insisted on a bigger crowd for his appearances in the future. “I will never again attend a meeting of this kind” he thundered. The no-shows might also have been a sign of disrespect for Joseph Muscat, the prime minister of tiny Malta, who like Mr. Juncker spoke at the Parliament on Tuesday but who held his tongue during the sharp exchange. Mr. Tajani may have been furious at public criticism which was live-streamed on the web but Mr. Juncker’s argument, even if appeared self-absorbed, has some validity. Lawmakers at the European Parliament will turn out for debates on hot topics like Britain’s plans to withdraw from the union, known as Brexit, and the future of the European Union at large.
