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Sat, Feb 11 2012
Danish MEP triggers outrage with "racist" comments against Bulgarians and Romanians
Camre has offended Bulgarians with his comments
Photo: Reuters
Bulgarians and Romanians have reacted angrily to claims by a Danish MEP that they are "less intelligent" than northern Europeans.
According to the Daily Mail, Mogens Camre made the outburst during an EU debate on voting rules, under which the number of seats a country gets in the European Parliament are calculated according to population size.
Camre said that it was "unjust" that Bulgaria and Romania's combined 30 million people could outvote the combined weight of 20 million Danes, Finns and Swedes.
He told France 24 television later: "When I look at the voting rules, I see that countries like Romania and Bulgaria have many more votes than Denmark and Sweden and Finland. I think that honestly speaking that we are more intelligent than they are. People who have not created healthy societies shouldn't be making decisions for other Europeans," he said.
Camre's broadside brought a furious reaction from Bulgarian MEP Marusya Lyubcheva: "This statement is discriminatory to say the least, if not also racist and anti-human.
Europe's unity is based on its diversity. Bulgaria and its people have proved their extraordinary intellectual potential in every field of human knowledge."
Austrian social-democrat MEP Hannes Swoboda echoed the sentiments of her Bulgarian colleague: "This is an unbelievable statement.
I would remind him of the Nazis' belief that some peoples are inferior."
According to the Daily Mail, Mogens Camre made the outburst during an EU debate on voting rules, under which the number of seats a country gets in the European Parliament are calculated according to population size.
Camre said that it was "unjust" that Bulgaria and Romania's combined 30 million people could outvote the combined weight of 20 million Danes, Finns and Swedes.
He told France 24 television later: "When I look at the voting rules, I see that countries like Romania and Bulgaria have many more votes than Denmark and Sweden and Finland. I think that honestly speaking that we are more intelligent than they are. People who have not created healthy societies shouldn't be making decisions for other Europeans," he said.
Camre's broadside brought a furious reaction from Bulgarian MEP Marusya Lyubcheva: "This statement is discriminatory to say the least, if not also racist and anti-human.
Europe's unity is based on its diversity. Bulgaria and its people have proved their extraordinary intellectual potential in every field of human knowledge."
Austrian social-democrat MEP Hannes Swoboda echoed the sentiments of her Bulgarian colleague: "This is an unbelievable statement.
I would remind him of the Nazis' belief that some peoples are inferior."
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I, as an American can't condone an attitude such as this. I have been to Bulgaria many times and I find them to be a highly motivated society. Many speak more than one language and have gone on to receive their master degrees in college. Senseless racial crap.
All the hysterical responses in the world are not going to change the fact that every serious attempt to gauge the average IQ of the countries involved proves this Danish MEP is right: Scandinavians are more intelligent. Now whether the causes of this are cultural or biological (or a combination of both) may be debated, but the basic facts are quite clear.
there are two sides of the coin...
It looks like some Danish pigs become M.E.P.s instead of bacon ...
Shame and nothing else but shame
to the Danish MP, he forgot the basic rules of parliametary debates in the EU and apart that
he incinuates racist behaviour,
which is intolerable for an MP
In 10-15 years from now he and all
who have the same attitude will
be very sorry.
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Mr Camre's remarks is a fine example how ignorant and stupid
people can be. To say that the
people of one nation is less ingelligent then the people of
another nation, is ludicrous, and
brings back memories of the Nazi
regime and Their Supremacy theories. AMEN.
Yes I would definitely agree with
the Austrian Minister's response
that the Scandinavian's minister's
remarks about Romanian's and Bulgarian's being less intelligent,
are akin to the Nazi's superior
race dogma. And look who is calling
the kettle black!!! It is s most
stupid and ignorant remark. My
wife is Bulgarian, two college
degrees, speaks 4 languages, and
is a very sensitive person.
De Veech da na.....
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I am sick and tired of these so called people of honour in the Brussles club. they are the most corrupt lot in Europe This Danish M.E.P is a two faced liar and i hope he gets voted out. I am english i do not live in Bulgaria but have spent a lot of time there and i can see this proud Nation being one of the best in the Balkans the only good thing to come from the Danes is pig bacon.
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Do not worry Romania and Bulgaria the tables are turning. The EU15 wont so arrogant in 10-15 years time. Its just a matter of time.
I completely agree with you llian. When Romania and Bulgaria become among the Richest in the EU in 10-15 years time there will be many many apologies coming from the EU15. There will be many EU15 States that will be begging Romania and Bulgaria for forgiveness for all the hurt, abuse, racism that has been directed against the two newest EU States - Romania and Bulgaria for some years. I am not either Romanian or Bulgarian but I do feel angry as well I feel outraged by this behaviour from the EU15. I wonder when Romania and Bulgaria become among [...]
Read the full comment the richest in the EU in 10-15 years time what comments will be coming out their big mouths. That will be very interesting.
even western European leaders like Sarkozy and Merkel are arrogant persons.
Is this mean European Union goes to the end day by day?
Who is this "arrogant" man? I think he never been in Bulgaria and he doesn't know anything about Bulgarians.
But unfortunately most of western European bureaucrats
This is outrageous. I'm so tired of "developed" Europe looking down upon the Balkans as if we are an inferior people, because we are not. In addition, what constitutes a "healthy" society? For instance, some of the highest suicide rates in the world are in Northern Europe. If their societies are so healthy, then why do their own people keep killing themselves.
I ado agree with him on one thing though, and that is if you don't want other Europeans making decisions for you, then get the hell out of the EU. Frankly, I don't like [...]
Read the full comment European bureaucrats in Brussles, who have never been to Bulgaria, making decisions for it. Europe needs more decentralized power, not more centralized.
Lol, why bring poor old Bulgaria into this. The population of Romania alone exceeds that of the three D,S&F (which acronym has other connotations, particularly appropriate for Camre who kind of gives the lie to his statement with regard to relative intelligences).
We should all club together and send him a Bulgarian hat, with the label still attached.