German MEP angered by anti-Greek attitudes
Jorgo Chatzimarkakis says he won't stand for re-election because "it's difficult to work with people who started a campaign against Greece".
Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, a German Liberal MEP of Greek origin, has said that he will not stand for re-election to the European Parliament because of the anti-Greek attitude of German politicians.
Chatzimarkakis, a member of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), the junior party in Germany's governing coalition, told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency: “The moment I feel more Greek than German, I can't be an authentic politician in Germany. My mind, my spirit, don't allow it.” The MEP criticised the attitude of German politicians towards Greece during the eurozone crisis. He said: “It's difficult to work with people who started a campaign against Greece.”
Chatzimarkakis said that anti-Greek attitudes were especially strong within his own party, with FDP politicians calling on Greece to sell off islands and the Parthenon. “They were so extreme I couldn't go to the party's convention,” he said.
The MEP said that it was “very difficult to push through messages that don't fit stereotypes - such as that Greeks work very hard, even more than Germans. That doesn't enter the Germans' minds. They want the lazy Greek as a stereotype.”
Chatzimarkakis, who was born in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, was elected to the European Parliament in 2004. He has a reputation as a strong defender of the German car industry during negotiations on greenhouse-gas emissions. He is also chairman of the Parliament's delegation to Macedonia.
The FDP did well in 2009 federal elections, receiving its highest ever share of the vote. But it is predicted to do badly in elections in September. The party lost all its seats in four regional elections in 2011 and received just 6.7% of votes in elections in North Rhine-Westphalia in May 2012. european voici
Chatzimarkakis, a member of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), the junior party in Germany's governing coalition, told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency: “The moment I feel more Greek than German, I can't be an authentic politician in Germany. My mind, my spirit, don't allow it.” The MEP criticised the attitude of German politicians towards Greece during the eurozone crisis. He said: “It's difficult to work with people who started a campaign against Greece.”
Chatzimarkakis said that anti-Greek attitudes were especially strong within his own party, with FDP politicians calling on Greece to sell off islands and the Parthenon. “They were so extreme I couldn't go to the party's convention,” he said.
The MEP said that it was “very difficult to push through messages that don't fit stereotypes - such as that Greeks work very hard, even more than Germans. That doesn't enter the Germans' minds. They want the lazy Greek as a stereotype.”
Chatzimarkakis, who was born in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, was elected to the European Parliament in 2004. He has a reputation as a strong defender of the German car industry during negotiations on greenhouse-gas emissions. He is also chairman of the Parliament's delegation to Macedonia.
The FDP did well in 2009 federal elections, receiving its highest ever share of the vote. But it is predicted to do badly in elections in September. The party lost all its seats in four regional elections in 2011 and received just 6.7% of votes in elections in North Rhine-Westphalia in May 2012. european voici
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