Polish MEP says racist language accusations result of left-wing 'rumours'

Non-attached far-right MEP Janusz Korwin-Mikke has pointed the finger at left-wing MEPs for spreading rumours that he used racist language during a recent debate on youth unemployment.

By Rajnish Singh

Rajnish Singh is Political Engagement Manager at Dods

29 Jul 2014

Showing no regret for his alleged use of offensive language, the Polish MEP still insisted that he used the word negro, not the word "nigger". In a press conference last week in the European parliament he told journalists, "I was taught these words when I was young…and I am not going to change my ways."

"I was taught these words when I was young…and I am not going to change my ways"

Ambivalent to the potential outrage caused by his comments, he asked, "Who is actually offended?", instead claiming that left-wing MEPs had spread rumours that he used offensive language during the debate.

Rather than accept responsibility for causing any uproar during the debate, Korwin-Mikke felt the parliament vice-president who chaired the debate "should explain why he had not quietened the audience".

Moving on to youth unemployment, the non-attached member said the biggest contributing factors towards this issue in Europe were high income taxes, the minimum wage and unions. When it was pointed out to him that there was no proof of increased unemployment following the UK's adoption of the minimum wage, the MEP still insisted that unemployment was "too high" in Britain.

Korwin-Mikke said he would abolish all government benefits as a way of motivating people to get back into work because "hunger is the best teacher". Responding to suggestions that the most vulnerable people in society would be hit worst by his suggestion of withdrawing all state help, he said, "state benefits are currently not given to the most vulnerable, but to those who play the system".

"Hunger is the best teacher"

He complained that the economies of Europe suffered from overly high levels of taxation, saying, "taxes punish everybody apart from the rulers". The Pole wanted the EU to follow laissez-faire libertarian economic policies, such as those put forward by Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek, with gis ideal vision of Europe comprising of organisation along 19th century lines.

When challenged about his controversial statements concerning the role of women in society, where he questioned levels of female intelligence, he insisted, "I respect all women" pointing out how much he admired former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher as a politician, especially her views on economics.

While the Pole conceded that many women were in good jobs, including those which are MEPs, for him only "one percent of women have a decent job", while the rest of female employees do not have "intellectual jobs". For Korwin-Mikke, women could only develop intellectually by staying "at home bringing up families", not by being "stuck in the [office]".

"State benefits are currently not given to the most vulnerable, but to those who play the system"

To back up his arguments regarding women's intellectual capabilities, he said "out the top 100 chess players only one was a woman," and that in sports, even in teams of female players, "the manager is nearly always a man".

When asked why no political grouping in the parliament had invited him to join them, he responded by accusing the Polish intelligence service of spreading rumours and making him out as an "animal", but added that being a "lone wolf is not so bad".

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