EU bigwig ‘getting away’ with race and lobbyist scandals ‘because he is German’ claims MEP
ONE of the European Union’s top unelected officials is “getting away” with a series of scandals because “he is German”, an influential MEP has claimed.
Gunther Oettinger was this week caught up in a second major row in a month
Germany’s European Commissioner Gunther Oettinger was this week caught up in a second major row in a month after he came under fire for accepting a trip in the private jet of a pro-Russian lobbyist.
It came little more than a fortnight after Mr Oettinger - who was recently promoted by European Commission boss Jean-Claude Juncker - was forced to apologise after being accused of making racist and homophobic comments.
He reportedly referred to Chinese people as “slit-eyes” and “sly dogs” while also being filmed making disparaging remarks about same-sex marriage.
Portuguese MEP Ana Gomes has since claimed Mr Oettinger “does not have the control that Commissioners are supposed to have”.
The former diplomat, who is vice-chair of an influential European Parliament committee, told website Euractiv.com: “I think he is simply not suitable.
“But the most important things are indeed these very racist political comments about Chinese, about gay marriage.
“And the only explanation that I get for the fact that he is not called to account, is the fact that he is German.
“And that is, in my opinion, the most outrageous, the most unacceptable explanation.
“Is it that because he is German, he is getting away with it? It simply cannot happen.”
EU Commissioner Oettinger accused of racism after speech
Is it that because he is German, he is getting away with it? It simply cannot happen
Ms Gomes has since written to a fellow top MEP to request Mr Oettinger’s behaviour be debated in the European Parliament.
She also suggested Mr Oettinger is only a member of Mr Juncker’s Commission because German Chancellor Angela Merkel “wanted to get rid of him”, adding: “That’s what I hear from German colleagues. That man definitely doesn’t do a good service for the EU.
“He should go, or at least acknowledge he did wrong, apologise and promise he will not repeat such mistakes.”
Mr Juncker recently handed Mr Oettinger responsibility for the Commission’s digital economy and society brief.
The German politician was recently promoted by European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker
Earlier this week, Mr Oettinger hit back at “unfounded” allegations he broke EU rules over the acceptance of gifts by hitching a lift in the private jet of German businessman Klaus Mangold.
Mr Oettinger said he took the flight on May 18 at the suggestion of the Hungarian government because he would otherwise have arrived late for a planned meeting with the country’s prime minister Viktor Orban.
Mr Mangold is reported to be close to Russian president Vladimir Putin and is the honorary consul in Russia of Germany’s Baden-Wurtemberg region, where Mr Oettinger is from.
A European Commission spokeswoman told Express.co.uk they had nothing further to add to Mr Oettinger's explanation but reiterated his means of transport, arranged by the Hungarian government, was the only possible way for the Commissioner to be in Budapest for a meeting with the Hungarian prime minister.