European Parliament
Schulz (PSE ).
(DE)
Mr President, I have never made use of this Rule before, but I would ask to be allowed the following clarification. I would never defend a corrupt regime, whether headed by socialists or by anyone else, and this is something I should like to stress at this point. Rather than defending anyone, I merely appealed to Mr Basescu. I made no reference to any corrupt politician, in any country, and I should like, here and now, to say that any person who is corrupt should be punished and should not head a government. It is however equally unacceptable for people to come under general suspicion merely because they belong to a certain political family.

