Several right-wing elected officials came this Saturday to the aid of Michel Barnier after the bronca that his remarks on European law and European justice aroused among part of the political class.
The right-wing primary candidate for the 2022 presidential election, who twice served as EU commissioner, foreign minister on the draft treaty establishing a constitution for Europe in 2005 and EU Brexit negotiator, s 'is however shown this week very critical of the European Union.
A sovereignist position which produced the astonishment of certain elected Europhiles.
To discover
Presidential 2022: where are the candidates in the polls?
Read also Michel Barnier: "
Why we need a moratorium on immigration
"
It all started with this sentence pronounced Thursday during the parliamentary days of the Les Républicains party in Nîmes in the south of France: "
We cannot do all this without having regained our legal sovereignty, by being constantly threatened with a judgment or of a judgment of the European Court of Justice or of the Convention on Human Rights, or of an interpretation of our own judicial institution
”. "
Legal sovereignty
", the word was out ...
“
The Eurobeate bubble is offended that Barnier reminds us that the primacy of European law can exceptionally be challenged by national constitutions. What the European treaties provide. Regular recall by the court of Karlsruhe too. But the caricature is comfortable
”, argued this Saturday the MEP LR Arnaud Danjean on Twitter, referring in particular to the rulings of the German Supreme Court which, for a long time, indeed reserves the right to set aside a European provision which would go against German fundamental law. From a 2006 decision, the French Constitutional Council itself considered this possibility - without implementing it - by invoking "
the constitutional identity of France
".
"
Unheard of words
"
“
So because he brings up this legal possibility, Barnier becomes a horrible Frexiter (!) And Europhobe.
But when all French politicians (legitimately) howl against the working time directive applied to the military, are they not calling EU law into question?
», Continues the MEP.
“
It is appalling that all these jurists have forgotten that the superiority of treaties over law comes from a constitution approved by the people.
No judge is above
”, also estimated the deputy LR Julien Aubert, president of the movement Oser la France.
These declarations of right-wing elected representatives come after those, much less friendly, of other political leaders, starting with that of the Secretary of State for European Affairs. "
How can such a sentence have been uttered by such a committed European?"
“, Quipped Clément Beaune, questioned by the Politico site. “
As European Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier defended tooth and nail the primacy of the Court of Justice of the EU and of the ECHR. Or at least we hope so. As a candidate for a primary, he would deny what he defended? He who has always given value to the word given?
“, For his part tweeted the majority MEP Nathalie Loiseau, referring to the two major European courts.
Read also Michel Barnier: "I want to be a president who respects the French and makes France respect"
On the one hand, there is the Court of Justice of the European Union, the supreme court of the organization with 27 member states.
On the other hand, there is the European Court of Human Rights, a court responsible for ensuring compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights.
The latter does not depend on the European Union, but on another organization, the Council of Europe, which has 47 member states.
The echo of Michel Barnier's words has even crossed French borders.
“
Unheard of comments from Michel Barnier.
These statements discredit the enormous work he did in Brussels as European Commissioner and then as EU negotiator on Brexit,
”said for example the president of the Group of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Iratxe Garcia Perez .
The British have also made no secret of their annoyance tinged with amusement.
“
Breathtaking!
What hypocrisy!
The same Michel Barnier who was trying to demean the United Kingdom by demanding control over our courts and our borders ...
”said Conservative MP Michael Manufacturer.
Read alsoThe legal obstacles of a "moratorium" on immigration
Michel Barnier's words in favor of "
legal sovereignty
" were in fact linked to immigration, with the candidate for the primary wishing to propose "
a referendum in September on the question of immigration
" and defending himself a five-year moratorium on immigration. A proposal that would not necessarily comply with European Union law, at least as it exists today. A few hours after his controversial statement, Michel Barnier clarified his point: “
Let's stay calm! To avoid any unnecessary controversy and as I have always said very precisely, my proposal for a 'constitutional shield' will only apply to migration policy.
". For the moment, not everyone has remained calm in the face of this proposal, which is provoking a lively debate.
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/WM5VZQOR6VFMFLZMTGBODDY3LU.JPG)
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/QAG2A3JZCJEPZPP7TBNTWSYLK4.jpg)
