European Parliament
Farage (IND/DEM ).
Mr President, I am not sure whether I take your comments as being a neutral intervention or perhaps more of a veiled threat. I suspect the latter. I would like to make it perfectly clear that I did not make these comments without having done substantial research. Mr Cohn-Bendit implied that he knew rather more about the case by trying to say that these difficulties and problems have affected many parties in France.
I made the comments about Mr Barrot having researched the case very carefully. I believed it was a function of parliaments – even though I am not a particular fan of this one – that their Members be able to speak freely, to make statements and to ask questions. I thought that was what parliaments were all about, so I find Mr Poettering's comments very surprising.
I will make it perfectly clear: if it is proved that what I have said is wrong, if it is proved that my research is flawed, then of course, in those circumstances, I would withdraw the remarks and apologise wholeheartedly.
(Applause from the IND/DEM Group)

