European Parliament
Jens-Peter Bonde (IND/DEM ). –
Mr President, the proposed Constitution was approved by 500 votes to 137, and confirmed by 382 to 125 votes; so the opponents now have one in four votes in this House, but when we are represented at meetings abroad with the national parliaments, it is only 1 to 14. The ‘no’ side was not allowed to be present at Berlin, London or Paris. Parliament has now sent a total of 58 representatives, 54 from the ‘yes’ side, only 4 from the ‘no’ side. In 7 of the 11 meetings the ‘no’ side was not present.
Last Thursday the Conference of Presidents approved this discrimination against those of us who oppose the Constitution. That is a very good example of how badly our D’Hondt system works in relation to minorities in the big groups. Some of us have established a Fair Chair reform programme. We call for a Fair Chair instead of a coronation, and fair representation instead of discrimination against small groups and minorities.
We will present our platform at a press conference tomorrow at 2 p.m. in the press room. Mr President, you are welcome to come.

