Calls to expel Romanian MP over Norway comments

(BUCHAREST) - The Socialist group in the European Parliament and a Roma rights group on Friday called on the ruling party in Romania to expel a lawmaker who pinned blame for the Norway attacks on EU leaders.

The comments made by Liberal Democrat (PDL) lawmaker Iulian Urban on his blog "are outrageous," the deputy leader of the European Socialists, Hannes Swoboda, told radio RFI Romania.

"It is unacceptable and immoral that the PDL should tolerate a moment longer this man amongst them."

Swoboda stressed that Austria's far-right Freedom Party had announced Thursday it had expelled a lawmaker who drew parallels between the Norway massacre and the number of attacks committed by Islamist extremists in Europe.

The Romanian MP, who in the past took anti-Roma stands and pleaded for the restoration of the death penalty, wrote that "it is not (Anders Behring) Breivik that perpetrated the attack but the current EU leaders."

Citing contradictory statements on immigration and multiculturalism in such countries as Germany and France, he said that political leaders are turning Europe into a "powder keg".

"In this chaos, it is surprising that just one European has pushed the trigger to voice frustration at the European politicians' indifference and hypocrisy in the face of Islamisation and illegal immigration," Urban said.

Romani CRISS, a leading Roma rights group, slammed the Urban's "fascist and xenophobic comments".

"He does not simply justify the attacks, he instigates to violence and discrimination," the group said.

But PDL spokesman Sever Voinescu said these were Urban's "personal opinions".

"The party leadership has asked the MP to clarify his position and will decide if any measures should be taken," he said.