New Pan-European Political Party runs into trouble

The European Union Parliament may review its decision to grant funding to the anti-Lisbon Treaty party Libertas. The move comes after Estonian MP Igor Gräzin, sent an affidavit to the EU Parliament on Feb. 3 disavowing his support

In the email Gräzin says, “I have never signed any papers asking for a recognition of Libertas as a political party in the EU and all corresponding claims are utterly untrue.”

Libertas started as a campaign pressure group opposed to the Lisbon Treaty in the Irish referendum on the subject. Last year, founder Declan Ganley announced that it would transform itself into a pan-European political party to contest the EU Parliamentary elections.

In order to receive the 200,000 euro (US$250,000) funding Libertas must be able to show it has support of elected representatives in seven or more EU member states.

The email was sent to the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe’s (ALDE) deputy Andrew Duff. He believes the email from Gräzin to be genuine, “because people I know have spoken to him.” Mr Gräzin is presently unavailable for comment.

Of Libertas, Duff said, “Mr Ganley appears to have fallen at the first hurdle. Apparently his claim to have recruited enough supporters was untrue. What Europe really needs is a bit more Veritas and a lot less Libertas.”

Libertas claims that it has Gräzin’s signature is in its “possession” and that it intends to publish the entire list of signatories on its website late Feb. 4.

Libertas believes Gräzin has been “put under immense pressure by the liberal ALDE grouping within the European Parliament to renounce his support of Libertas.” It claims to be able to find, “many times the necessary signatures,” if required.

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