Marine Le Pen Could Face Trial.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2345010/French-extreme-right-leader-Marine-Le-Pen-face-trial-comparing-countrys-Muslim-community-Nazi-occupation.html

Should all European MPs have their legal immunity as an MEP lifted or only those that have a different view to others, and is this inciting racial hatred, or yet another attempt by the EU to stifle free speech?

/// Le Pen told supporters: 'For those who like to talk about World War II, to talk about occupation, we could talk about, for once, the occupation of our territory. ///

This is what she actually said, How can that be inciting racial hatred, especially when it is just a fear regarding the spread of a religion?

[ichkeria]

She's an obnoxious racist I do know that. I'd throw the book at her.

If you can't see how that is spreading race hatred then I am very surprised. It's also grossly offensive to the memory of those who DID suffer under Nazi occupation in France.

[jake-the-peg]

Regardless of what she's said or done I have a real problem with someone doing or saying something under legal immunity and then having that immunity lifted and being prosecuted for it - if that is what is being proposed

Immunity is there for a reason and if it is being undermined that's a major issue for international diplomacy

[jomifl]

She is a good candidate for being locked up, but not for that, unless something was lost in translation.

[anotheoldgit]

ichkeria

/// If you can't see how that is spreading race hatred then I am very
surprised. ///

Islam is not a race, or even specifically a colour question since there are many white Muslims you know.

[ichkeria]

I suspect the white Muslims might not be such a problem for Mme Le Pen :-)

[jake-the-peg]

I would point out that whilst I strongly disagree with lifting someone's immunity to retrospectively prosecute someone, if people abuse immunity to deliberatly flout the law then that immunity should be withdrawn.

Can you imagine the furor if someone like Chowdry managed to get himself elected as an MP and decided to take advantage of Parliamentry privilege to flout race hate laws?

[ichkeria]

Yes and I would add that the predictable furore amongst Le Pen's sadly sizeable racist support in France should any immunity be lifted would not be worth the grief.
I still have memories of Nick Griffin with a handkerchief tied round his face, playing the gagged martyr to free speech...

[jomifl]

^ tied around his face? shouldn't it have been a few feet lower down?

[THECORBYLOON]

It was not the EU that asked for the immunity to be removed, it was the French Authorities. The Parliament's Judicial Committee agreed and it will be put to a vote by the other MEPs. I am not an expert in the French legal system so I cannot comment on what legislation is being used in Le Pen's case. Would you not agree that comparing the Muslims living in France to the Nazis' occupation during the war is inflammatory or do you think there is nothing wrong in what she said?

[FredPuli43]

Unfortunately necessary. She aims to use immunity for improper ends.

[jamesnan]

My French friend told me recently that she would not be at all surprised if Le Pen is the next leader of France, that is the feeling over there.

[FredPuli43]

Le Pen, pere,was the finalist in a presidential election. He lost heavily. He was only there because the opposition was more concerned with internecine fighting than unity and beause France has proportional representation. They will not make the first mistake again.

[DaisyNonna]

aog, different from please.

[FredPuli43]

Daisy , did you understand what AOG was saying? Yes? Then what is the problem? "Opposed to that of" would be perfect. What, then, is the objection to 'different to ' in the same context? Language moves on , with sense.

[ichkeria]

Dictionaries tell us that "different to" is frowned on by traditiionalists, but strongly hint that there is nothing wrong with it.

[FredPuli43]

Collins' editors say that different from, to, and than are all found in past and present writers' work, the last being an American idiom. They think that 'from' is the preferred use now, but find no fault with 'to'. The point is that neither to nor from is contrary to grammar and both are understood.

[anotheoldgit]

DaisyNonna

/// aog, different from please. ///

Before making petty remarks on a person's grammar, perhaps you would be better employed, swotting up on your own?

/// DT, I did say home made. Do not live with an individuasl nammed Greg. ///

[THECORBYLOON]

Do you or do you not think the comparison with Nazis is valid?

[emmie]

The Taliban have a similar ethos, not sure they are in abundance in France though.

[emmie]

where there is discord over immigration you will get the likes of Marine Le Pen, she has been taught well...