Bruno Gollnisch, of the French extreme right party "Front National", told the press on Wednesday 10 January of the imminent creation of a new political group within the European Parliament. To be known as "Identity, Sovereignty and Tradition", this political group will be made up of 20 members of the European Parliament of seven different nationalities. It has no plans to put forward a candidate for the election of the EP presidents next week, said Mr Gollnisch, referring to forthcoming discussions with Jens-Peter Bonde, a candidate for the ID group.
In a letter to the president of the EP, the new group has made a political declaration on the main policies it supports: the recognition of national interests, sovereignties, identities and differences; commitment in favour of Christian values, heritage, culture and the traditions of European civilisation; a commitment in favour of the traditional family as a natural societal link; a commitment in favour of the freedoms and rights inherited by all; opposition to a unitary and bureaucratic Europe and a European superstate; a commitment to establish the direct responsibility to the people on the part of those who govern; and transparency in the management of public funds. When asked about the way his group felt with regard to Turkey, Mr Gollnisch said it was a great people that can play a linking role and that is entitled to privileged partnership with the European Union. Making things worse in order to further one's own ends is the very worst policy, he said with reference to the position taken by the United Kingdom, suspected of wanting Turkey to join to make the EU implode. On the minority rights of the Roma, he explained that the ITS recognises human rights and minority rights on condition that minorities respect the rights of the majority'. On the subject of immigration, he said: We are hostile, not towards immigrants but towards a massive immigration policy, especially when migrants are from outside Europe, and because of the destructive effect that it has on our societies. The ITS group will be composed of the following MEPs: * 7 French (Bruno Gollnisch, Carl Lang, Jean-Marie and Marine Le Pen, Fernand Le Rachinel, Jean-Claude Martinez, Lydia Schenardi of the National Front); * 5 Romanians (Daniela Buruiana Aprodu, Eugen Mihaescu, Viorica Moisuc, Petre Popeanga, Cristian Stanescu of the Romania Mare party); * 3 Belgians (Philip Claeys, Koenraad Dillen, Frank Vanhecke of Vlaams Belang); * 2 Italians (Alessandra Mussolini of Alternativa Sociale; and Luca Romagnoli of Fiamma Tricolore party); * 1 Austrian (Andreas Molzer of Freigheitliche Partei Österreichs); * 1 Bulgarian (Dimitar Stoyanov of the Ataka coalition); and * 1 British (Ashley Mote of the UKip party). It is not for now foreseen that there will be any new members, notably Polish, said Mr Gollnisch. Amana S. Ferro
