« The judgment does not speak of all allegations »
« Today, the end of a four -year legal history marks. » Monica Semedo reacted to the judgment of the European Court on Wednesday in a press release. The ECJ had lifted the sanctions imposed on them on the same day.
In her letter of « unjustified allegations and a real hunt against me, the former EU MP spoke, which is examined by the advisory committee for complaints about the merchant of members of the European Parliament ».
Bullying affair: ECJ raises sanctions against Monica Semedo
As a reminder: A former Semedo assistant had submitted a complaint about bullying in the European Parliament in November 2022. An investigation was then initiated by an advisory committee. This came to the conclusion that the allegations were justified and recommended that Monica Semedo be entitled to daily allowance for 20 days. The President of the European Parliament reduced the punishment to ten days.
My dignity was « irreparably injured »
This Wednesday, the court decided to lift the sanctions against Semedo. The reason? Because she did not have the opportunity to « take the files on which the files against them are based on the decisions relating to them ».
« I have strained this procedure because I believe that the European Parliament has refused the following-the right to defend myself comprehensively, fairly and with the necessary legal advisor, » emphasized the former DP politician in her letter.
In a Facebook story, Monica Semedo reacted to the judgment of the European Court of Justice. Photo: Screenshot: Facebook
She also commented that her dignity and honor had been « irreparably violated » by this affair, « even if today the judgment of the European Union's judgment gives me a little back from this dignity ».
The court ruling states that the procedure was not okay. Among other things, Semedo is said to have received no complete insight into the evidence.
However, the court ruling does not contradict that there was a bullying affair. On the contrary: The judgment also states that the committee on March 9, 2023 informed the parliamentary president that the applicant's written statement of January 16, 2023 did not question the conclusions of the report.
Judges question internal procedures of the EU Parliament in the Semedo case
« The European Parliament has taken note of the judgment and is currently examining it, » a spokeswoman for the EU Parliament told the « Luxemburger Word » and is considering appeal.
Semedo, on their part, said in her press release that it was never her goal to combat the institution, « but to fight for it – to bring light into the urgent processes in need of reform ».
« It would be an honor for me to contribute to improving internal procedures – in particular by accompanying new MPs, clarifying the roles and strengthening the guarantees, » added Semedo.
Mind you, this is only the second bullying case. The first case 2021 was not contested by Monica Semedo.
The then President of Parliament David Sassoli had suspended the Luxembourg MP for 15 days for « psychological harassment of assistants ». At the time, she left the DP, her party at the time, because of a lack of support.
Semedo still focus?
Monica Semedo was still a focus for the small party in the 2024 European elections Started as a CO top candidate. In this election, she received only 4,856 votes around 50,954 votes in the 2019 election. Too little to keep her seat in the EU Parliament.
When asked by the « Luxemburger Word » whether the politician is still active at focus, its President Marc Ruppert replies « not talking about her political future since the EU elections ». Semedo's political career in focus was « against the background of the election result, the outstanding professional reorientation and the process » was not a priority.
The verdict confirms that the criticism of the procedures was appropriate.
Marc Ruppert
President of Focus
Ruppert says of the decision of the ECJ not to be « surprised ». On the contrary: « The verdict confirms that the criticism of the procedures was appropriate » and that the EU had to adhere to the rule of law « that demands it from its citizens ».
However, the Semedo judgment does not speak of all allegations, emphasizes Ruppert, « but puts various processes into a different light and will hopefully lead to improvements in the procedures ».
Would Semedo do politics again? The « Luxembourg word » has not yet received a answer. Opposite RTL She explained that she was looking for a new challenge.
