The PSOE has accused the PP MEP Antonio López Istúriz of insulting and calling "sons of bitches" the socialist delegation that received the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez and his entourage with applause, upon their entry into the chamber of the European Parliament, this Wednesday in Strasbourg. The president of the parliamentary group of the European Socialists and Democrats, Iratxe García, has sent a letter to the president of the European Chamber, Robert Metsola, in which she requests the Board to adopt necessary measures to "limit the spread of such behavior" and consider "the necessary sanctions to be applied" to the member in question.
According to sources from the PSOE, the popular MEP addressed in these terms the Spanish workers who applauded Sánchez as he went to the platform, where this morning he gave his assessment speech on the Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union. One of the MEPs accompanying the president, Javier Moreno, could clearly hear López-Istúriz's comment. Next, Iratxe García reproached him for his words. "Who are you to insult," she replied. Among those who have directly received the nickname, which is reminiscent of the supposed 'I like fruit' from Isabel Ayuso to Sánchez during the investiture session, are the members of the Cabinet of the MEP and leader of the ranks of the European socialists, according to what they indicate the sources consulted.
In the letter sent to Metsola, García points out that López Istúriz referred "in a very incongruous and defamatory manner to the entire left wing of the Chamber, as 'sons of bitches'." And it considers that "such behavior is not only inappropriate for an elected representative of European democracy and our European institution", but also "seriously violates the principles established in the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament" that set the basic standards of conduct of its members.
The Popular Party is also going to file a complaint about what happened, as sources from the party have explained to La Vanguardia. His explanation, that López-Istúriz "complained because officials of the institutions were applauding and cheering from seats in the European Parliament itself", a situation that "has already been repeated on several occasions and is not permitted by the regulations", these point out. sources, who advance that they are going to file a complaint with the Secretary General of the institution "to enforce parliamentary regulations and the Official Statute." The PP does not therefore enter into discussing whether the MEP has described the employees of the European socialist group in such broad terms: "The debate today has to be focused on the intervention of Sánchez and his partners. Coming into comment would be giving an opportunity to S
Once the alleged conduct of the MEP has been reported, Metsola should examine what happened, explain institutional sources, who do not recall allegations of an insult of that caliber in the Chamber. It is up to the president of the institution to adopt the eventual sanction. In the event of an appeal, the matter would be examined by the Bureau of the European Parliament, made up of its president, the 14 vice-presidents and five quaestors. López-Istúriz was general secretary of the European People's Party for two decades, between 2002 and 2022.
