UKIP Leader Nigel Farage Blasts ‘Repugnant’ Comments of MEP Expelled for Racism
Dion Dassanayake, Express (London), June 3, 2013
Nigel Farage has blasted comments made an Italian member of the European Parliament for ‘repugnant’ and ‘racist’ remarks towards a black minister today.
The UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader blasted Mario Borghezio for comments about Cecile Kyenge being appointed Italy’s integration minister.
The politician from Italy’s Northern League party said Ms Kyenge would want to impose her country’s ‘tribal traditions’ on Italy in an interview in April.
As a result Mr Borghezio has been kicked out of the Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) group in the European Parliament which Mr Farage is co-president of.
Mr Farage said: “I made it clear at the last Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group meeting that unless Mr. Borghezio was expelled that UKIP would leave the Group.
“Mr. Borghezio has now been expelled for his repugnant comments. We have sent out an unmistakeable signal that racist comments are unacceptable.”
Mr Borghezio was kicked out of the eurosceptic EFD group by a majority vote.
In response to his dismissal, he claimed Mr Farage wanted him out of the group because he had annoyed the UKIP leader’s ‘powerful friends in the City of London.’
The dig at Mr Farage, who used to be a commodity trader, referred to Mr Borghezio’s campaigns against tax havens and financial privileges.
Mr Borghezio will remain an MEP but will lose some speaking time now he is outside of the seven main political groupings.
The offending comments came in a radio interview, when he had also said: “This is the government of Bonga Bonga.”
Furthermore, he claimed ‘Africa hasn’t produced great geniuses as anyone can see from a Mickey Mouse encyclopaedia” and called on Ms Kyenge to condemn polygamy.
