← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Hilaire Belloc
Thread ID: 8202 | Posts: 2 | Started: 2003-07-17
2003-07-17 17:39 | User Profile
**http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3073445.stm
German MEP sorry for 'racist' remark
A German member of the European Parliament has apologised for calling Italy's government racist. Martin Schulz told the Bild newspaper he was sorry that a sweeping statement he had made on Tuesday had offended the entire Italian Government.
He said he had only been referring to the leader of the Northern League party, Umberto Bossi, because of a comment he allegedly made about firing on illegal immigrants.
Relations between Germany and Italy became strained earlier this month when the Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, likened Mr Schulz to a guard at a Nazi concentration camp.
This sparked a major exchange of insults between politicians and media in both countries.
Relations deteriorated further when an Italian minister made comments deemed to be offensive about German tourists.
In an interview with Germany's XXP television on Tuesday, Mr Schulz reignited the row as it showed signs of dying down. He condemned reported proposals by an Italian minister that coastguards should fire on boats bringing illegal immigrants to the country.
"This is the second point that we have to watch - that, quite simply, a racist government is in office in Italy," Mr Schulz said.
Mr Schulz originally angered Mr Berlusconi by heckling him in the European Parliament him about legislation that provided him with immunity from prosecution, and led to the suspension of a bribery trial.
His tactics prompted Mr Berlusconi's "Nazi" jibe.
In the row which followed, Italian tourism minister Stefano Stefani described German tourists as "hyper-nationalistic blondes", prompting Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to cancel a holiday in Italy. Mr Stefani resigned at the end of last week after fears that thousands of German tourists might join the chancellor's boycott.
He said he had not been referring to all Germans - only those "like Mr Schulz".
The comment that coastguards should fire on immigrant boats was allegedly made by Mr Berlusconi's coalition partner, Umberto Bossi, head of the far-right Northern League, although he later said he had been misquoted.
Mr Stefani is also a member of the Northern League. **
2003-07-17 19:11 | User Profile
[img]http://www.an-online.de/aachen/macht50/images/schulz1_an.jpg[/img]
Aachener Nachrichten
Martin Schulz represents the Region Aachen in the European Parliament
A natural political talent
Joachim Zinsen
Aachen/Würselen
If that is not a dream carrier. With just 31 years he becomes mayor of Würselen, the youngest one in this office in Northrhine Westphalia. Aged 38, he moves into the European Parliament. Today at age 41 he is one of the leading minds of the socialist wing in the Strasbourg house of representatives. In june 1994 Martin Schulz moved into the European Parliament for the first time. "Sometimes I am amazed about my fast rise in politics", says Martin Schulz and adds with a smile:" Probably I had a lot of furtune over the last years." But good furtune is only explaining the steep carrier of the Eschweiler to a small part. Sure: When in 1994 a few months after his election the European parliament was looking for a speaker for human rights, he had a little bit of luck. Because he had dealt with the issue of human rights for several years in an intensive way. He was born for that job.
A nose for hot issues:
But he can in his position as the domestic affairs spokesman, the member of the party leadership and the vice president of the German social democrats in the European parliament bring in further qualities. The registered book seller is a member of the species "political natural talent". He is a great communicator who can explain even complex issues without ending up in populist rhetoric. And he possesses a nose for hot issues.
He did not need much of an invitation when the Strasbourg parliament was looking for an investigator in the subjects of illegal nuclear smuggling in Europe and in reaction to the Dutroux affair the war against child abuse. The social democrat did research on these issues and made headlines in Germany.
His political talents are paired with further character traits. Schulz is well known amongst his colleages as a workoholic, or a literal working animal. Around the clock he is on the road between Aachen, Würselen, Brussels, Strasbourg and nowadays Bonn.
Schulz is part of the core team of the SPD, being a central organizer in the election campaign in 1998. The rest of the time he spends with his wife and his children Nico (10) und Lina (7).
Convinced FC Cologne-Fan
He does not have any time for hobbies. His last one, soccer, he was forced to give up in the 70s. Back then his team was vice champion in the B-youth in Western Germany. He openly admits that he just made a grade school degree, because most of his time he spend chasing the ball. But in 1989 he had to give up his hobby finally. His heel got injured.
He is an open adherent of the first FC Cologne soccer team. And this as a resident of Aachen.