Politician Kartheiser facing expulsion: Moscow trip causes trouble!

Politician Kartheiser facing expulsion: Moscow trip causes trouble!

Political tensions surrounding Luxembourg MEP Fernand Kartheiser (ADR) are increasing. Kartheiser is planning a trip to Moscow at the invitation of the Russian Duma. This could have serious consequences for his membership of the European Conservatives and Reformers Group (ECR) in the European Parliament. EKR chairman Patryk Jaki has announced that he will submit a request for expulsion if Kartheiser actually travels to Moscow, which underlines the clear position of his PiS party against a new rapprochement with Moscow. [Tageblatt] reports that Jaki emphasized that the EKR cannot support a “reset policy with Moscow”.

Kartheiser announced his trip on Friday on the X platform, accompanied by a video in Russian. This comes at a time when he also voted against a key Ukraine resolution supported by his group. His recent interview with the EU-sanctioned Russian newspaper Izvestia led to internal criticism and a reprimand from the EKR. The connection of his political activities with an issue concerning the death of Lech Kaczyński in Russia also creates additional tension.

Uncertain future in the European Parliament

The discussion about Kartheiser's future in the EKR group is already underway and a decision is expected to be made at the beginning of February. During an exchange with his colleagues from the ECR, the Luxembourg politician emphasized that the discussion went correctly and that he had the opportunity to present his position and arguments. Despite the tense situation, Kartheiser does not want to make any predictions about the outcome of the talks and continues to concentrate on his parliamentary work. He could remain a member of the group or act without a faction in the European Parliament. [Lessentiel] reports that Kartheiser was recently supported by his party following pro-Russian statements, further complicating the already complicated situation.

Kartheiser defends his decision to grant an interview to a Russian media outlet, arguing that it is not forbidden. He sees himself as “pro-peace” and rejects the EU sanctions against Russia. His criticized positions are in contrast to the EKR, which strives to maintain a serious image and actively support Ukraine. The demographic distribution within the ECR group, which includes 78 MEPs from 18 countries and is the fourth largest group in the European Parliament, could be affected by Kartheiser's possible exclusion, as 23 MEPs from seven member states are required to form a group. In particular, the Polish PiS is the second strongest party in the EKR.

The Luxembourg Foreign Ministry has taken a clear position regarding Kartheiser's planned trip to Moscow: it is extremely problematic and does not contribute to resolving the existing conflicts. The next few weeks will be crucial in clarifying the future of Fernand Kartheiser in the European Parliament and his role within the ECR group.