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Nazi-era comparison prompts row Nazi-era comparison prompts row
(20 minutes later)
A British Euro MP has been threatened with expulsion from a centre-right group of MEPs after likening new powers with those given to Hitler in 1933. A British Euro MP has been threatened with expulsion from the EPP group of MEPs after likening new powers with those given to Hitler in 1933.
The European Parliament's German president Hans-Gert Poettering has been given extra powers to curb disruptions after protests by Eurosceptic MEPs.The European Parliament's German president Hans-Gert Poettering has been given extra powers to curb disruptions after protests by Eurosceptic MEPs.
Daniel Hannan said only his personal respect for Mr Poettering stopped him comparing the powers to a Nazi-era law.Daniel Hannan said only his personal respect for Mr Poettering stopped him comparing the powers to a Nazi-era law.
The EPP group, to which Tory MEPs belong, has threatened to expel him. He said the row showed the Tories need an "amicable divorce" from the EPP.
Mr Hannan, MEP for the South-East of England, made his intervention in the Parliament chamber as Mr Poettering was being granted powers to curb protests which began last week when UKIP MEPs and some Conservatives pressed for a change to voting procedures to make them more transparent. The Conservative Party is in the process of leaving the EPP, which it considers too federalist, and is attempting to form a new centre right group in Brussels and Strasbourg, although some of its MEPs have opposed the move.
The whole business is outrageous. I am almost tempted to compare it to the Nazi Ermächtigungsgesetz - the Enabling Act of 1933 Daniel HannanWriting on his blogThe whole business is outrageous. I am almost tempted to compare it to the Nazi Ermächtigungsgesetz - the Enabling Act of 1933 Daniel HannanWriting on his blog
The row was sparked by a point of order made by Mr Hannan in the European Parliament chamber, as MEPs voted to give more power to Mr Poettering.
Mr Hannan complained about the stifling of free expression and likened the issue to the Germany's 1933 Ermächtigungsgesetz Act that gave Adolf Hitler unlimited power.Mr Hannan complained about the stifling of free expression and likened the issue to the Germany's 1933 Ermächtigungsgesetz Act that gave Adolf Hitler unlimited power.
He said: "We have given arbitrary power to the chair to tear up our rule book and proceed as he sees fit." 'Committed democrat'
If MEPs backed the move, Mr Hannan said they would be abandoning their own rules.If MEPs backed the move, Mr Hannan said they would be abandoning their own rules.
He added: "I would almost be tempted to compare it to the Ermächtigungsgesetz law of 1933 but I think that would be disproportionate and perhaps a little rude to our president, who is a committed democrat and a decent man."He added: "I would almost be tempted to compare it to the Ermächtigungsgesetz law of 1933 but I think that would be disproportionate and perhaps a little rude to our president, who is a committed democrat and a decent man."
'Outrageous' Writing about the row on his Daily Telegraph blog, Mr Hannan said: "As I sat down, the EPP leader, Joseph Daul, sprang to his feet and announced that he wanted me thrown out of the group.
European People's Party (EPP) chairman Joseph Daul disassociated his group from the remarks and threatened to expel Mr Hannan. "He had lost patience with my filibustering, he said. Enough was enough."
Mr Daul later told Mr Hannan he did not want the Tory MEP calling for an EU treaty referendum as a member of the EPP, the MEP writes.
'Amicable divorce'
But he said the Tory chief whip in Brussels backed his stance on a referendum and reassured him that he would continue to take the Tory whip and be re-selected as a candidate.
"Which seems to me about as clear a demonstration as you could ask of why it is that the Conservatives and the EPP cannot remain together. It's time for an amicable divorce", wrote Mr Hannan.
A Conservative spokesman told the BBC that Mr Daul would make a decision on whether to expel Mr Hannan from the EPP when the Parliament next meets in Strasbourg.A Conservative spokesman told the BBC that Mr Daul would make a decision on whether to expel Mr Hannan from the EPP when the Parliament next meets in Strasbourg.
He stressed that Mr Hannan had not called Mr Poettering a Nazi.He stressed that Mr Hannan had not called Mr Poettering a Nazi.
Writing in his Daily Telegraph blog last week, Mr Hannan said he had been outraged by Mr Poettering's decision to suspend the European Parliament "in order to disadvantage the tiny number of MEPs who want a referendum". 'Outrageous'
Writing in his blog last week, Mr Hannan said he had been outraged by Mr Poettering's decision to suspend the European Parliament "in order to disadvantage the tiny number of MEPs who want a referendum".
"The whole business is outrageous. I am almost tempted to compare it to the Nazi Ermächtigungsgesetz - the Enabling Act of 1933 which allowed Hitler to override parliament and the constitution."The whole business is outrageous. I am almost tempted to compare it to the Nazi Ermächtigungsgesetz - the Enabling Act of 1933 which allowed Hitler to override parliament and the constitution.
"But I won't because a) it would be disproportionate and b) it would be terrifically rude to Hans-Gert, who lost his father in the war and who, for all that he is behaving appallingly on this occasion, is a decent man and a democrat."But I won't because a) it would be disproportionate and b) it would be terrifically rude to Hans-Gert, who lost his father in the war and who, for all that he is behaving appallingly on this occasion, is a decent man and a democrat.
"Which is why I am so disappointed in him. He, of all people, should be alive to the dangers of assuming discretionary powers in order to bulldozer the law.""Which is why I am so disappointed in him. He, of all people, should be alive to the dangers of assuming discretionary powers in order to bulldozer the law."
'Offensive remark''Offensive remark'
UKIP leader Nigel Farage praised Mr Hannan for his "bravery in working with UKIP and others in exposing the actions and anti-democratic nature of the European Parliament".UKIP leader Nigel Farage praised Mr Hannan for his "bravery in working with UKIP and others in exposing the actions and anti-democratic nature of the European Parliament".
But Gary Titley, leader of the British Labour MEPs, said: "By comparing the ruling of the President of the European Parliament with the law that gave unlimited power to Hitler, in Holocaust week, Hannan is dishonouring memories of the victims of terror of the Nazi regime."But Gary Titley, leader of the British Labour MEPs, said: "By comparing the ruling of the President of the European Parliament with the law that gave unlimited power to Hitler, in Holocaust week, Hannan is dishonouring memories of the victims of terror of the Nazi regime."
Graham Watson, leader of the multinational Liberal and Democrat (ALDE) group, accused Mr Hannan of "plumbing new depths in UK-EU relations and in the Tories' approach to democracy in the EU."Graham Watson, leader of the multinational Liberal and Democrat (ALDE) group, accused Mr Hannan of "plumbing new depths in UK-EU relations and in the Tories' approach to democracy in the EU."
He added: "I trust that David Cameron will waste no time in dissociating himself from such an offensive remark."He added: "I trust that David Cameron will waste no time in dissociating himself from such an offensive remark."
Mr Poettering, a 61-year-old Christian Democrat who is also leader of the EPP group, was elected president of the European Parliament earlier this month.Mr Poettering, a 61-year-old Christian Democrat who is also leader of the EPP group, was elected president of the European Parliament earlier this month.
The Conservative Party is in the process of leaving the EPP, which it considers too federalist, and is attempting to form a new centre right group in Brussels and Strasbourg.