By Lothar Bisky, President of GUE/NGL group

Barroso: GUE/NGL group said No!

"Our group cannot agree with Barroso's political vision", declared Lothar Bisky, President of GUE/NGL in his speech after the presentation of the Commissioner designate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. In today's plenary vote*, GUE/NGL opposed the re-election of Mr Barroso as President of the European Commission.

In a meeting with the President of the Commission the previous week, GUE/NGL MEPs questioned Mr Barosso on the social, economic and financial crisis, on the Charter on Public Services, the revision of the Posting of Workers Directive and on the Stability Pact.

Lothar Bisky declared: "The Left in Europe demands a re-orientation of EU policies towards a social, peaceful and democratic Union. Mr Barroso has not given any satisfactory answers to our questions and he represents a continuation of the policies that lead to the current crisis. For all these reasons our group has voted against the candidate put forward by the Member State governments."

*Mr Barroso has been elected with 382 votes in favour and 219 against