The Telegraph — Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the head of the eurozone’s finance ministers, is facing calls to resign after refusing to apologise for saying crisis-hit European countries had wasted their money on “drinks and women”.
The Dutch interim finance minister – whose Labour party slumped from 38 seats to nine making it unlikely that the Dutch finance minister will retain his place in the Eurogroup – made remarks in an interview with German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) that several MEPs have called “insulting” and “vulgar”
“During the crisis of the euro, the countries of the north have shown solidarity with countries affected by the crisis,” Dijsselbloem said.
“But you also have obligations.
“You cannot spend all the money on drinks and women and then ask for help.”
Gabriel Mato, a Spanish MEP, said the remarks were “absolutely unacceptable” and an “insult” to southern member states – claiming he had lost his neutrality as finance chief.
Ernest Urtasun, another Spanish MEP, said: “Maybe this is funny for you, but I don’t think it is. I would like to know if this is your first statement as a candidate to renew your post as president of the eurogroup.”
Mr Dijsselbloem’s term ends next year, and he is believed to be considering running for re-election.
Refusing to apologise, he attempted to brush off the criticism, telling the MEPs: “Don’t be offended.”
He continued: “It is not about one country, but about all our countries.”
He then attempted to dig himself out of the hole by saying all countries had failed to uphold the financial rules set by the EU.
“The concept that when I am being stern on the rules and regulations… and taking them seriously, that this is an attack, is a huge mistake” he told MEPs.
The criticism is likely to heap pressure on Mr Dijsselbloem’s position as chair of 19-member Eurogroup.
Portugal’s minister for foreign affairs, Santos Silva, called on Mr Dijsselbloem to resign.
“It seems that the president of the Eurogroup has spent all these years without understanding what really happened to countries like Portugal, Spain or Ireland”, he said.
Gianni Pitella, head of the Socialist grouping in the European parliament, questioned whether Mr Dijsselbloem was “fit” to hold the Eurogroup chair: “Dijsselbloem went far beyond by using discriminatory arguments against the countries of southern Europe. There is no excuse or reason for using such language, especially from someone who is supposed to be a progressive.”
