The cordon sanitaire is quietly fraying in the European Parliament CEPS

The cordon sanitaire is quietly fraying in the European Parliament - CEPS 

 

While in some EU Member States, there is still a firewall against the far right, at the European level, cooperation between conservatives and the far right is taking place without much fuss. This is already apparent in the way the hearings of the designated Commissioners are being organised in the European Parliament, starting on 4 November. The process of critical questioning is becoming increasingly party-politicised. The largest political faction, the conservative European People’s Party (EPP), has advantages in the process. What’s more, it seems ready to work with the far right.

This is dangerous because it increases the risk that party-political considerations will overshadow what this procedure is actually about, which is to check whether candidates are suitable for influential Commissioner posts. That could compromise Parliament’s role in oversight. (...)