Following today´s deal between the EPP and ALDE groups in the European Parliament, Tanja Fajon, S&D Group vice-president and spokesperson, said on behalf of the Group:

"From Grillo to Berlusconi in less than a week. Guy Verhofstadt has given further proof of his political incoherence, performing a spectacular somersault. Apparently, after having tried the tragicomic move of getting the populist 5 Star movement on board to increase his personal chance of victory, now the leader of the Liberals seems to have hammered out a deal with Berlusconi's man in Brussels, the EPP candidate Antonio Tajani.

"In the last few days, we offered Verhofstadt a clear pro-European deal, we received no response to this and what is even more surprising is that he apparently did not even inform his Group about this opportunity. This is the second time in a week that Verhofstadt has forgotten to inform his own Members of important information, showing a complete lack of respect for his ALDE Group colleagues.

"We still believe political coherence is a value to be preserved and respected. We still believe Orbán's approach to migration is a disgrace, we still believe Berlusconi's attitude to women is shameful, we still believe in gender equality and LGBTI rights, we still believe EU should be the global leader on climate change, we still believe in the fight against tax avoidance and tax evasion, we still believe in the protection of whistleblowers and in the urgent need for more growth.

"These are the values we stand for. Verhofstadt decided to jump to the right even though the history and nature of ALDE is far from that of Berlusconi. He preferred to perform a political somersault and shape a new majority with the conservatives and the right-wing forces. This is a historic mistake and we will work for an alternative solution.

"We believe this Parliament needs a more ambitious and transparent majority."

S&D press contact