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pampango

(24,692 posts)
Thu Oct 16, 2014, 10:24 AM Oct 2014

European Parliament's anti-EU coalition collapses

Eurosceptic MEP group collapses


The UKIP party of Nigel Farage (left) and the Five Star Movement of Italy's Beppe Grillo (right)
dominated the group


One of the main Eurosceptic groups in the European Parliament (EP), which includes Britain's UKIP, has collapsed after a Latvian MEP withdrew.

The Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD) group had 48 members including the Five Star Movement of Italian politician Beppe Grillo. UKIP's 24 members made up half of the EFDD group, followed by Five Star which had 17 MEPs. Other members included the Sweden Democrats, one French independent, and MEPs from the Czech Republic and Lithuania.

Group status means extra funds, seats on committees and more speaking time. To qualify as a group, parties must represent at least seven countries and Ms Grigule's departure reduced the EFDD to six.

The leader of the UK Labour Party at the European Parliament, Glenis Willmott MEP, said Nigel Farage had suffered a "massive blow".

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29646414

Couldn't happen to more deserving group of right wingers.
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