Polish MEP Janusz Korwin-Mikke has sparked controversy in Strasbourg once again by giving the Hitler salute while speaking in the European Parliament.
Korwin-Mikke, leader of fringe party the Coalition of Polish Republic’s Renewal Freedom and Hope, made the gesture in protest against a German-led bid to introduce integrated ticketing for travel across EU borders, including train and bus services.
As MEPs voted on a resolution in favour of the initiative, which advocates say would increase the use of public transport, Korwin-Mikke paraphased the Nazi German slogan of ein volk, ein reich, ein fuhrer (one people, one empire, One leader).
Addressing the chamber in English, he argued that in spite of frequent talk in the parliament about diversity, “all the time if there is voting, we are voting for the unification of everything.
“This time it is ein reich, ein volk, ein ticket,” he said, before raising his arm in the Nazi salute.
Since the May 2014 elections to the European Parliament, Korwin-Mikke has ruffled feathers in Strasbourg, once slapping a fellow Pole in the face and on another occasion referring to ”niggers” in a speech about unemployment.
