MEP Jacek Ozdoba has sent a letter to the chairman of the European People’s Party, Manfred Weber, regarding the removal of MEP Michał Szczerba from his position as permanent rapporteur on relations with the United States in the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs. Ozdoba argued that the Civic Platform politician’s role raises concerns about the credibility of the EP in its relations with Donald Trump’s administration. He recalled the way Szczerba had spoken about the U.S. president.
In his letter to Weber, Ozdoba stressed that Szczerba’s role “requires exceptional responsibility, the ability to conduct dialogue across political divides, and balanced language.” – “Unfortunately, Mr. Szczerba’s posts and statements have repeatedly fallen short of these standards,” he stated.
The PiS politician recalled the way Szczerba had spoken about Trump in the past. This included a post saying “Trump’s place is in the trash” and a statement that “Trump is simply a bad person and everyone knows it. He uses hatred and lies in public life. His behavior is often immoral.”
“These are not isolated cases, but part of a broader narrative in which the politician uses language that disqualifies him from holding any position related to transatlantic relations, let alone representing the European Parliament as permanent rapporteur on the United States,” Ozdoba declared, adding that Szczerba’s statements could “seriously damage the EP’s image in the USA.”
In his letter, Ozdoba called for Szczerba’s immediate dismissal from the post. The EPP group had announced Szczerba’s appointment as Permanent Rapporteur on U.S. Affairs in the Foreign Affairs Committee in November of last year.