The European Grassroots Antiracist Movement – EGAM calls on Chancellor Merkel and European Commission President Juncker to impose sanctions after the racist statements by German European Commissioner Günther Oettinger

Paris, Saturday, October the 30^th,

On Wednesday, in Hamburg, during a meeting with a federation of companies, Mr. Günther Oettinger made racist statements, regarding Chinese people, and others which had the flavour of homophobia.

These statements, which are most probably unlawful, are totally unacceptable.

At a time when racism rises all over the continent and is increasingly present in public speeches and even in governments, the European Commission must stand to fight against racism, not fuel it.

Apologies by Mr. Oettinger are necessary but absolutely not sufficient. There must be consequences to giving racist statements, for all individuals, especially for public officials.

In particular, it would be incomprehensible that Mr. Oettinger keeps being a European Commissioner, even less that he is promoted Commissioner for the budget.

We call on Chancellor Merkel and European Commission President Juncker to act according to the fundamental values of democracy and to impose the accurate sanctions to Mr. Oettinger following his racist statements.

Contact :
Benjamin Abtan
President of the European Grassroots Antiracist Movement – EGAM
@ : benjamin_abtan@yahoo.fr
Cell : +33 7 60 83 20 80