Live replay of the EP Plenary session on the Election of the President of the European Parliament, 9th parlimentary term, during the plenary week in Strasbourg (01-04/07/2019). Statement by Sira REGO (GUE/NGL, ES) The following transcription is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

statement

Strasbourg

plenary session

vote

election of the President of the European Parliament (T)

REGO, Sira (The Left, ES)

EP Plenary session - Election of the President of the European Parliament: statement by Sira REGO (GUE/NGL, ES)

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/20077279/I175504Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Sira Abed REGO (GUE/NGL, ES), We Have had candidates since the beginning. Other groups have been involved in backroom deals deciding on the future of millions of our citizens. But we believe it is vital to be very open about what our policies are. For the person who'll be residing this chamber in the years to come so many won't be in the pocket of lobbyists or multinational companies not someone that will continue feeding the monster of neo fascism.

We Have had candidates since the beginning. Other groups have been involved in backroom deals deciding on the future of millions of our citizens. But we believe it is vital to be very open about what our policies are. For the person who'll be residing this chamber in the years to come so many won't be in the pocket of lobbyists or multinational companies not someone that will continue feeding the monster of neo fascism.

We think it's important to be on the side of workers, the people and human rights. It's important to have a parliament that responds to the needs of our people. That isn't just based on populism. We want the EU to progress not based on exploitation of workers or natural resources. We are very much aware that the EU's economic policies have devastated entire countries in Spain in Greece and Portugal.

We have all suffered particularly the neo liberal doctrine on which the EU is based has generated suffering unemployment precarious jobs inequality. This simply leads to a future without prospects or hope. Not just in economic terms. This whole productive model and economic model is responsible for the eco social crisis and the climate crisis that our planet is facing. This is the wrong way for us to proceed. The way in which the EU is applying its policies is not going to solve the problems that we clearly face in all of our member states.

We believe that this is one of the key issues the Parliament should tackle. So please support our proposal to create a special committee on the climate emergency. This is something which is absolutely vital for us now. The neo liberal policies of the European Union Union have helped create the fascist monster we see the rise of the extreme right and xenophobic racist policies. We don't want the parliament to normalise this discourse of hate or disregard for human rights simply disguising it as defending security.

We have seen those who try to protect those in the Mediterranean. The ship's captain who was recently arrested and criminalized by Mr Salvini. These are people who are simply trying to save lives. They come from the South from a country where we know what happens and how powerful women can be in the fight against fascism.

We want to tell the stories of the invisible women who helped build our societies even though history tries to erase us. We are the ones that support the foundations of our society. We know the position that we are in. We are here to defend the rights of our people those who are working those who are giving us all of their efforts. We defend peace anti fascism. We see what happened in the past with fascism and fighting against these forces.

We want to see a new society we call on governments and the Commission to stop creating these false narratives. We want real feminist policies people to be really involved in political decision making. Feminism needs to be properly involved in the agenda of the EU institutions not simply as a Labour but as a real basis on which to build our society.

All of these heroes we have had in the past who have helped bring down Mussolini and other fascist forces in Europe. We recognize ourselves in those those who are out there protecting people who are being criminalized by Fortress Europe. We defend the young people who want a viable planet for their future. That is why we are making this effort to build a Europe based on peace and solidarity where nobody is left behind. Thank you very much.