EU:The European Parliament's far-right Independence, Tradition and Sovereignty (ITS) group was dissolved yesterday to sustained applause from most MEPs.
The demise of the group, which included French politician Jean Marie Le Pen, follows derogatory comments made against Romanians by ITS MEP Alessandra Mussolini, granddaughter of the Italian dictator.
The five Romanian ITS members signalled last week that they were leaving the group after Ms Mussolini described Romanians as habitual law breakers. Their withdrawal reduced the number of ITS members to 18, below a 20-member threshold required for it to remain a group.
Vice-President of the European Parliament Edward McMillan Scott told the parliament yesterday that he had now received letters of resignation from two of the Romanian ITS members, Daniela Buruianä-Aprodu and Cristian Stanescu.
"Taken together with the announcements already made this week concerning three members leaving the group, I conclude that the number of members of the ITS Group has now fallen below the minimum of 20 members required to form a political group," Mr McMillan Scott said, before officially dissolving the ITS to applause and cheers of a large number of MEPs.
The group, which was only formed last January, was the first far-right group in the Parliament. Its members can seek to join other parties but if they are not accepted they will become non-aligned MEPs, losing speaking time and access to staff.
Ms Mussolini's comments followed the arrest of a Roma in Italy over a woman's murder. "Breaking the law became a way of life for Romanians. However, it is not about petty crimes, but horrifying crimes that give one goose bumps," she said.
Irish MEP Bairbre de Brún said the group had made "no positive contribution" to the European Parliament and welcomed its dissolution. Socialist group leader Martin Shutz said the ITS never belonged in a European democracy. "The good news is that the International of the ultra-nationalists no longer exists and cannot use the money of the European taxpayer to support its xenophobia and neo-fascism," he said.