Podemos leader says farewell to EU Parliament with harsh attack

Pablo Iglesias, leader of the anti-establishment party Podemos, gave up his seat in the European Parliament on Tuesday to focus on the upcoming Spanish general election – but not before delivering a fiery speech that targeted nearly everyone in the chamber.

Iglesias, who is hoping for good results on December 20 on the strength of voters’ dissatisfaction with the main Socialist Party and Popular Party, launched a blistering attack against the coalition of socialists and conservatives in the European Parliament.

We cannot humiliate those people, because that is humiliating Europe and ending the welfare state” Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias

He also criticized the way Europe is handling the refugee crisis, and reminded MEPs of the time when Europeans were the refugees in times of war.

“Fifteen months ago I said that we hoped for a different Europe, one that would be a little less tough on the weak and a little less complacent with the powerful,” he said, in reference to his first address to the chamber after securing five MEPs at the European elections on May 24, 2014. “Unfortunately, I think that this statement is still valid today.” 

It was that surprisingly good result that turned a months-old party into a major player on the Spanish political scene, and opened the door for other newcomer parties that feed on voters’ discontent with the two-party system.

Although he has been criticized at home for gradually softening his rhetoric to attract more moderate voters, on Tuesday Iglesias was back on the attack.

First he derided MEPs “who cry crocodile tears and claim to defend human rights.”

“We are talking once again about war and desolation at the doors of Europe, about families who are getting closed doors and barbed wire as an answer, and I say that we Europeans cannot forget what war means, what horror and poverty mean, and what it is to have to flee horror and poverty,” he said.

Iglesias then turned specifically to European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker: “We cannot humiliate those people, because that is humiliating Europe and ending the welfare state, ending social rights and giving up our governments to the arrogance of financial powers. It means humiliating Europe and encouraging tax fraud, like you did, Mr Juncker, when you were treasury minister and fostered secret deals with multinationals so they would only have to pay one-percent tax.”

Finally, Iglesias pointed the finger of blame at Socialist Group leader Gianni Pittella: “People like you, Mr Pitella, have allowed Mr Juncker to be sitting there, because you Socialists have maintained a great coalition with the People’s Party in this chamber.”

“I am returning to my country so in Spain there will no longer be people like you in government.”

English version by Susana Urra.