European Greens chairman to vote for Tonio Borg; disagrees with his group
On the TVM news site (scroll right down for link to video):
GREENS SPLIT OVER BORG
Published on Thursday, November 15th, 2012 at 6:30 pm
The co-chairman of the European Greens Daniel Cohn Bendit disagreed vehemently with the position taken by his parliamentary group in relation to Commissioner Designate Tonio Borg. While the European Greens have expressed a collective opinion against the nomination, saying that they will be voting against Dr Borg, Bendit saif that he was against this position.
In a closed session, to which TVM obtained access, Cohn Bendit said that he would vote for Tonio Borg. He said that he would not be taking any position in public but, he had had discussions with Dr Borg.
He said that he had heard about the hearing and had obtained further information and on the basis of all these factors he did not agree with the position to be taken by the European Greens which he co-chairs.
“I don’t agree with your position; I say it here. I say it here because it is the only place where I have to say it…and you vote against him, you do what you want and I still think it’s wrong. OK” Bendit ended, on a very irate note and walked off from the table.
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And of course, Cohn Bendit (student leader of the Paris riots of 1968) is right. You don’t bar somebody from becoming an EU Commissioner just because he doesn’t share your views on contentious subjects, when he doesn’t wish to impose those views on you, when he has no way of doing so even if he wanted to, and when you claim to be liberal.
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http://tvm.com.mt/news/greens-split-over-borg/
I heard Dr Bonello this morning on TVM and he had this to say about Dr Tonio Borg when asked for his comment.
I would have greater respect for him if he stuck to his beliefs.
He stopped short from calling him a liar.
I couldn t agree more.
One of the MEP s yesterday commented that Dr Tonio Borg would have been perfect for the job a hundred years ago but not in this day and age..
[Daphne – Who is Dr Bonello? There are several.]
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I’m honestly impressed – real liberalism to the logical conclusion. Some people, few people (Cohn Bendit) you have to admire, practising what he preaches. Arnold, on the other hand…
Cohn Bendit is a complete dickhead.
No one is claiming he can’t have his own views and beliefs. The concern is that the portfolio he will cover does include health and the fact that his views on health – and we are obviously mainly talking reproductive health here – are in stark contrast to the majority it’s a pretty valid stance to question his suitability.
I’m not saying he is not the man for the job, in fact he seems quite capable for it. But the opinions that he has made public and the way he is acted on them (on topics such as abortion, gay rights, divorce, immigration etc.) puts a serious doubt in many peoples’ minds if he will be able to keep those opinions separated from his obligations.
He has stated that he will respect the obligations and regulations he will operate under, but that he can’t leave his conscience out. Now that is, in a way, a fairly fair position to take, but what happens when they are in conflict. He voted against the majority on divorce, will he do the same as a commissioner. Will he put his own opinions over the needs of Europeans, if his conscience dictates it.
The most annoying thing is the Maltese whine and rant about this being an anti-Catholic agenda, which is absolute nonsense. There are numerous Catholics in the commission, none the least the president himself.
My humble opinion is that all groups are split on Tonio’s nomination.
To be more precise: no group leader has any kind of control on every individual’s secret vote.
The question is not the speculation “whether DR Borg will be upholding the EU Charter of Fundamental Human rights” at some future date. It is whether the Greens, ALDE, LGBT here and now intend to respecti Articles 10 and 21 of that Charter in their hounding of Dr T Borg. 295
Art. 10. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion .. freedom .. alone and in public..to manifest religion or belief..in practice and observance.
Art 21. Any discrimination based on any ground such as …religion or belief … shall be prohibited.
Respect (yet again) to Cohn Bendit. Once a rebel, now a Green who can actually contribute to a political discussion.
It looks like these so-called liberals are truly fundamentalist. They are intolerant of anyone who does not share their views. They behave no better than the Taliban.
well said
You are an idiot.
A group of people object to voting in a commissioner, as he contrasts their values and opinions and they are the same as a group of people who murders girls for the crime of trying to get an education.
Go to hell.
As I always maintained – the Greens, liberal? Most of them are simply Communist, against everything and against all those who do not share their views.
The same goes for the other party of liberals and democrats – Lib & Dem my foot.
Green was the natural colour for most communists to turn to after they shied away from red. They are the same here.
Bil-Malti ghadna esspresjoni li tghid “kemm int ahdar” – tfisser kemm int kattiv u bla qalb.
Din l-esspresjoni il-veru toqodielhom kemm lil hodor Maltin u anke lil dawk Ewropej.
What does being a Liberal mean? It means favouring proposals for reform and tolerant of the ideas and behaviour of others.
Are the Liberal MEPs truly tolerant of the ideas, beliefs and behaviour of others?
The way they are behaving towards Tonio Borg clearly shows that they are absolutely intolerant and worse than that arrogant. Simply they are not Liberals at all.