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State of the Union Address 2025 by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission: statement by Martin Schirdewan, Co-Chair of the Left group (GUE-NGL) of the European Parliament

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The co-president of the Left Group, Martín. Mr. President.

Well, you're trying to do politics with a coalition that's made up of conservatives, Social Democrats, the Greens and the Liberals, you end up with no opposition,

but my group will continue to be in opposition because the trade deal that you concluded with the United

States is an attack on our industrial base and will destroy thousands of jobs,

and praising that deal really.

Requires a high level of cognitive dissonance.

While Donald Trump is rapidly turning the USA into an authoritarian state,

you've made European politics subservient to US economic and military interests.

You're sacrificing energy sovereignty, our digital markets,

security and climate protection on the Atlantic of the empty phrase transatlantic partnership. This deal is a total capitulation.

You're concluding one free trade deal after another, Mercosur, Mexico, India soon,

and thereby you circumvent national parliaments, the basis of our democracy.

But trying to fight overcapacity with more free trade is about as

illogical as throwing firelighters on the flames of the European economic crisis.

Every month, 10,000 jobs are lost in Europe in the steel sector.

1 in 3 Europeans lives in precarious conditions.

And has to count every single cent because of the increased costs of rents, food and energy.

Working poverty, poverty in old age, child poverty, you can't fight these things using free trade,

rather, you need courageous investments in industry, infrastructure and public services.

However, the only investments that you have come

up with are €800 billion for armaments and militarization.

At the same time, your Commission is recommending measures to make brutal cuts in pensions,

health and welfare payments. Your policies are splitting our society. Today we've crossed a red line.

For feel too long you've been silent on the humanitarian disaster

and the war crimes committed by the Israeli army in Gaza. Your words are not enough.

The Association Agreement with Israel must be suspended, weapons deliveries discontinued,

and the far right ministers of the Netanyahu government must be sanctioned.

3.5 years, the EU has played no diplomatic role in trying to forge peace in Europe.

Today you've talked a lot about security guarantees for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia,

but You can't hide.

The irrelevance of Europe's security and foreign policy.

Your record is one of social and economic failure,

foreign policy double standards, and subjection to autocrats.

60% of Europeans want you to resign. Do them a favor.

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