Assita Kanko: “Josep Borrell saddles Europe with a credibility problem”

7 October 2019
Assita Kanko

MEP Assita Kanko has serious doubts regarding the nomination of Josep Borrell as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Josep Borrell, who is being heard by the European Parliament on Monday, played the repressive card extremely hard in the Catalan question when he was the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs. “His track record saddles Europe with a credibility problem,” says Assita Kanko.

Political prisoners in a modern country

“Instead of striving for a politically-negotiated solution, Josep Borrell is tolerating political prisoners in a modern country. And as the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, he expelled a diplomat from a fellow Member State of the European Union who had expressed concerns about the Spanish prosecution policy and the lack of political dialogue. On top of that, he refused the appointment of a replacement. His approach is anything but constructive,” says Assita Kanko, expressing her reservation about Borrell.

Disgrace for the European Union

What’s more, as a member of the Spanish government, Borrell is ensuring that the European Parliament is not legally constituted by ignoring the votes of the Catalan electorate. MEP Assita Kanko explains: “Puigdemont (editor’s note: the former Catalan president) was elected democratically, but he may not enter the European Parliament. I saw him last week, outside at the entrance. It is a disgrace for the European Union, which seeks to play a leading role in the field of democratic values. Every democrat ought to be opposing that tooth and nail. But not Borrel.”

Moral authority on human rights

When Europe decides to intervene in a third country in future in order to facilitate a political dialogue, to secure the rights of political opponents and citizens, and emphasise the importance of the rule of law, democratic institutions and good governance, then such an appeal from the mouth of Borrell will come across as hollow and hypocritical, Assita Kanko says: “My mentor and research journalist Norbert Zongo gave his life for the freedom of expression. We looked up to Europe, the continent of the Enlightenment. Europe should be ashamed at the way it behaves towards its own citizens today. We are losing all moral authority on human rights.”

Assita Kanko will in any case listen with great attention to what Borrell has to say about human rights. “Who knows, maybe he will surprise me and extend an olive branch towards the Catalans. But I’d be amazed if he did,” she concludes.

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