EP VP caught lying comes under heavy fire
Katarina Barley could find herself in hot water in the next few days, having to provide explanations after making a statement in a debate that tuned out to be a lie. The German politician has come under heavy criticism after the debate
The European Parliament became the scene of heated debates recently, when the issue of EU funding for Poland was discussed. At the session, left-wing MEPs called on the European Commission to continue blocking financial aid to Poland. During the debate, Polish MEP Dominik Tarczynski had a spat with the vice-president of the European Parliament, who is the most vocal advocate of cutting funds for both Poland and Hungary.
MEP Tarczynski, a politician of Poland’s ruling party, recalled Vice-President Katarina Barley’s remarks made two years ago. “I would like to ask if it’s true that you said that Poland should be starved financially? Just indicate with your head yes or no. Did you use those words? Are you aware of how they sound in Poland, a country in which people starved to death as a result of what the Germans did? Can you appreciate what many Poles and Jews who starved at the hands of the Germans during the war must have felt at hearing such words, the politician asked the German vice-president.
Trwa właśnie kolejna debata o Polsce.
Pani @katarinabarley twierdzi, że nigdy nie mówiła głodzeniu Polaków.
Tak właśnie wygląda debata o faktach w PE 👇 pic.twitter.com/SMXqd699VL
— Dominik Tarczyński MEP (@D_Tarczynski) June 7, 2022
In her response, Ms Barley firmly rejected the accusations and denied having ever used the term „starve” in relation to Poles. „I have said it a million times; no, I never said that. I used that word when I was referring to corruption in Hungary,” the German vice-president said, rejecting the claims. However, when the recording of the debate was posted online, the comments drew the German politician’s attention to the fact that she had lied during the parliamentary session. As it turned out, she made these remarks in an interview with a German radio in October 2020, calling for putting more pressure on Poland and Hungary. Ms Barley, in fact, called for the withholding of EU funds and for „the starving out, financially” of both countries. Posting a link to the original radio interview, one commenter noted that VP Katarina Barley had made a racist statement and should apologise to Poles for what she had said, and also for publicly lying about it.
Pani @katarinabarley powinna zostać oskarżona o rasizm i powinna Polaków przeprosić za to co powiedziała i za to, że publicznie skłamała, że tak powiedziała!!!https://t.co/hx5nVj1SZT
— Piotr 🇵🇱 (@piter_op) June 7, 2022
Another social media user posted a much revealing photo compilation to get his message through to the German EP vice-president, and wrote: „We know your dream is to starve all Poles to death (except German subordinates of Polish descent, perhaps). But you had predecessors.”
Dear Mrs. @katarinabarley,
We know your dream is to starve to death all Poles. (except from German subordinates of Polish origin perhaps).
But you had predecessors. Not only Hitler and German nation supported him.
There were others. And you are very proud of them. pic.twitter.com/xERUTIfO7g— Jaroslaw Mojzych🇵🇱 🚗 🚲 (@JMojzych) June 9, 2022
Are you pleased that people in the EP tell mocking lies about the Polish nation and present these lies as truth when passing them on to the world, asked another Polish user.
Wolisz żeby osoby w PE 🇪🇺 przedstawiały szydercze kłamstwa o Narodzie Polskim ❤️🇵🇱 i te kłamstwa były przekazywane w świat jako prawda wypowiedziana na forum PE 🇪🇺 ? Bardzo dobrze że niektórzy Polscy Europosłowie 🇵🇱🇪🇺 bronią dobrego imienia Polski prostując kłamstwa o Polsce 👍
— Marek (@Marek96948364) June 8, 2022
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