Strasbourg (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Far-right Romanian MEP Diana Șoșoacă was expelled from the European Parliament session after disrupting a speech, continuing her controversial behaviour since her election.
Why Was Diana Șoșoacă Expelled from Parliament Session?
Romanian far-right politician MEP Diana Șoșoacă was expelled from the session of the European Parliament on Thursday, July 18, during the discussion on Ursula von der Leyen’s election for a new term as President of the European Commission. A newly-elected MEP, she has held a rather controversial beginning overall in the EP, including via an anti-European speech on July 17.
On Thursday, Diana Șoșoacă was ousted from the European Parliament session after the president of the Europan Parliament Roberta Metsola, requested her disposal. Șoșoacă was trying to interrupt the speech of MEP Valerie Hayer from Renew, according to G4media.ro.
What Led to Șoșoacă’s Removal from the European Parliament?
The Romanian MEP, who was keeping up an Orthodox icon and kept stating, “In God we trust,” was escorted out of the plenary hall to the cheering of the MEPs. She persisted in shouting in the hallways, stating that European Commission president von der Leyen “killed people” with COVID-era vaccine mandates. She also determined to wear a dog muzzle, ostensibly to correlate them to medical covers worn during the pandemic.
Why Did Roberta Metsola Expel Diana Șoșoacă?
In her maiden address in the European Parliament the day before, Șoșoacă – who has been condemned for her ties to Moscow – blamed the EU for ruining Romania by providing assistance to Ukraine and called for a halt to the supply of weapons to Kyiv. She also expressed Russia was “the only party that wanted to discuss peace.”
Earlier yesterday, Politico also posted a feature on Diana Șoșoacă after her foremost day in the EP. The article begins by noting that Șoșoacă, the leader of the recently created SOS Romania Party, “gained fame in Romania for her anti-immigration and anti-vaccine perspectives, as well as her disruptive behaviour in the Bucharest legislature.”
What Incidents Marked Șoșoacă’s First Days in Parliament?
The politician is quoted as having stated that the European Parliament is where “devils meet” and that she plans to bring a priest to consecrate the offices. On her first day in the European Parliament, Șoșoacă sported a traditional Romanian folk costume and brought myrrh and religious idols into her offices. She also argued that reconfirmed European Parliament chief Roberta Metsola hung white upon seeing her. Diana Șoșoacă, a senator in the Romanian Parliament since 2020, was elected to the European Parliament in June’s European elections.
Despite her impassioned comments and behaviour, Diana Șoșoacă was not admitted into the new European Parliament group’ Europe of Sovereign Nations,’ despite ideological parallels, greatly restricting her speaking time and influence.
