Planet Rugby Forum

Newsome wrote:Democracy.

bimboman wrote:

Newsome wrote:Democracy.

Usual level of detail from you.

Ann Widdecombe sparked howls of rage in the European Parliament after comparing the EU to "oppressors" such as slave owners, feudal barons and colonial Empires before declaring, “Nous allons, wir gehen, we're off!"

Ms Widdecome was the first Brexit Party MEP to speak in the Strasbourg parliament after May's European elections on Thursday.

"There is a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on their oppressors, slaves against their owners, the peasantry against the feudal barons, colonies against their empires and that is why Britain is leaving," she said.

"It doesn’t matter which language you use, we are going and we are glad to be going," the former Tory shadow home...

bimboman wrote:

Leffe wrote:

Mick Mannock wrote:Good luck with Von der Leyen. She might turn out to be as dodgy as Legarde.

Unlike the honest MP's of GB, who've been falsifying their expenses for decades. or Farrage who failed to declare his earnings and backers in the Brexit debarcle - honest to a man gov'.

She didn’t mess around with a few grand, just 100’s of millions in contracts to friends and family. Proper corruption not petty theft.

Leffe wrote:

Ann Widdecombe sparked howls of rage in the European Parliament after comparing the EU to "oppressors" such as slave owners, feudal barons and colonial Empires before declaring, “Nous allons, wir gehen, we're off!"

Ms Widdecome was the first Brexit Party MEP to speak in the Strasbourg parliament after May's European elections on Thursday.

"There is a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on their oppressors, slaves against their owners, the peasantry against the feudal barons, colonies against their empires and that is why Britain is leaving," she said.

"It doesn’t matter which language you use, we are going and we are glad to be going," the former Tory shadow home...

F ucking hell, she's gone full retard! And not simply Farrage full retard, she's found a Brexit amp where the nutter level goes to 11!

BokJock wrote:

Leffe wrote:

Ann Widdecombe sparked howls of rage in the European Parliament after comparing the EU to "oppressors" such as slave owners, feudal barons and colonial Empires before declaring, “Nous allons, wir gehen, we're off!"

Ms Widdecome was the first Brexit Party MEP to speak in the Strasbourg parliament after May's European elections on Thursday.

"There is a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on their oppressors, slaves against their owners, the peasantry against the feudal barons, colonies against their empires and that is why Britain is leaving," she said.

"It doesn’t matter which language you use, we are going and we are glad to be going," the former Tory shadow home...

F ucking hell, she's gone full retard! And not simply Farrage full retard, she's found a Brexit amp where the nutter level goes to 11!

Jesus.f**king.Christ

Maybe she is just frustrated that the EU has stymied funding for her research into gay conversion pills

BokJock wrote:

Leffe wrote:

Ann Widdecombe sparked howls of rage in the European Parliament after comparing the EU to "oppressors" such as slave owners, feudal barons and colonial Empires before declaring, “Nous allons, wir gehen, we're off!"

Ms Widdecome was the first Brexit Party MEP to speak in the Strasbourg parliament after May's European elections on Thursday.

"There is a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on their oppressors, slaves against their owners, the peasantry against the feudal barons, colonies against their empires and that is why Britain is leaving," she said.

"It doesn’t matter which language you use, we are going and we are glad to be going," the former Tory shadow home...

F ucking hell, she's gone full retard! And not simply Farrage full retard, she's found a Brexit amp where the nutter level goes to 11!

Jesus.f**king.Christ

Maybe she is just frustrated that the EU has stymied funding for her research into gay conversion pills

Toulon's Not Toulouse wrote:

BokJock wrote:

Leffe wrote:

Ann Widdecombe sparked howls of rage in the European Parliament after comparing the EU to "oppressors" such as slave owners, feudal barons and colonial Empires before declaring, “Nous allons, wir gehen, we're off!"

Ms Widdecome was the first Brexit Party MEP to speak in the Strasbourg parliament after May's European elections on Thursday.

"There is a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on their oppressors, slaves against their owners, the peasantry against the feudal barons, colonies against their empires and that is why Britain is leaving," she said.

"It doesn’t matter which language you use, we are going and we are glad to be going," the former Tory shadow home...

F ucking hell, she's gone full retard! And not simply Farrage full retard, she's found a Brexit amp where the nutter level goes to 11!

Jesus.f**king.Christ

Maybe she is just frustrated that the EU has stymied funding for her research into gay conversion pills

That's either a shite transcript or some very shitty French, since it means "we are going to" but fails to say what they are going to. On the other hand, it's probably a fairly accurate assessment of the current Brexit situation.

Mick Mannock wrote:Legarde will simply be a figurehead. A figurehead on a massive salary. She is a lawyer. All the heavy-lifting will be done by others. Has she ever shown anything that suggests she can run the ECB?

derriz wrote:

Mick Mannock wrote:Legarde will simply be a figurehead. A figurehead on a massive salary. She is a lawyer. All the heavy-lifting will be done by others. Has she ever shown anything that suggests she can run the ECB?

She worked her way up to become the first woman head of a major US international law firm while specialising in ompetition law. First woman to lead the IMF. Pro-trade, economically and socially liberal as French trade minster. Her CV stands up pretty well - she's had plenty of experience in the top tier of international finance and not being a professional economist could almost be seen as a plus. But being French/European and/or a woman has driven you and Bimbo into a frenzy.

derriz wrote:

Mick Mannock wrote:Legarde will simply be a figurehead. A figurehead on a massive salary. She is a lawyer. All the heavy-lifting will be done by others. Has she ever shown anything that suggests she can run the ECB?

She worked her way up to become the first woman head of a major US international law firm while specialising in ompetition law. First woman to lead the IMF. Pro-trade, economically and socially liberal as French trade minster. Her CV stands up pretty well - she's had plenty of experience in the top tier of international finance and not being a professional economist could almost be seen as a plus. But being French/European and/or a woman has driven you and Bimbo into a frenzy.

Gospel wrote:

derriz wrote:

Mick Mannock wrote:Legarde will simply be a figurehead. A figurehead on a massive salary. She is a lawyer. All the heavy-lifting will be done by others. Has she ever shown anything that suggests she can run the ECB?

She worked her way up to become the first woman head of a major US international law firm while specialising in ompetition law. First woman to lead the IMF. Pro-trade, economically and socially liberal as French trade minster. Her CV stands up pretty well - she's had plenty of experience in the top tier of international finance and not being a professional economist could almost be seen as a plus. But being French/European and/or a woman has driven you and Bimbo into a frenzy.

She was elected on the strength of being for a fully federalised superstate and an EU army. The rest either for or against is incidental.

Gospel wrote:

derriz wrote:

Mick Mannock wrote:Legarde will simply be a figurehead. A figurehead on a massive salary. She is a lawyer. All the heavy-lifting will be done by others. Has she ever shown anything that suggests she can run the ECB?

She worked her way up to become the first woman head of a major US international law firm while specialising in ompetition law. First woman to lead the IMF. Pro-trade, economically and socially liberal as French trade minster. Her CV stands up pretty well - she's had plenty of experience in the top tier of international finance and not being a professional economist could almost be seen as a plus. But being French/European and/or a woman has driven you and Bimbo into a frenzy.

She was elected on the strength of being for a fully federalised superstate and an EU army. The rest either for or against is incidental.

derriz wrote:

Mick Mannock wrote:Legarde will simply be a figurehead. A figurehead on a massive salary. She is a lawyer. All the heavy-lifting will be done by others. Has she ever shown anything that suggests she can run the ECB?

She worked her way up to become the first woman head of a major US international law firm while specialising in ompetition law. First woman to lead the IMF. Pro-trade, economically and socially liberal as French trade minster. Her CV stands up pretty well - she's had plenty of experience in the top tier of international finance and not being a professional economist could almost be seen as a plus. But being French/European and/or a woman has driven you and Bimbo into a frenzy.

camroc1 wrote:

derriz wrote:

Mick Mannock wrote:Legarde will simply be a figurehead. A figurehead on a massive salary. She is a lawyer. All the heavy-lifting will be done by others. Has she ever shown anything that suggests she can run the ECB?

She worked her way up to become the first woman head of a major US international law firm while specialising in ompetition law. First woman to lead the IMF. Pro-trade, economically and socially liberal as French trade minster. Her CV stands up pretty well - she's had plenty of experience in the top tier of international finance and not being a professional economist could almost be seen as a plus. But being French/European and/or a woman has driven you and Bimbo into a frenzy.

And in the Chief Economist on the board of the ECB she has someone who takes an EU wide view of matters.

Leffe wrote:

BokJock wrote:

Leffe wrote:

Ann Widdecombe sparked howls of rage in the European Parliament after comparing the EU to "oppressors" such as slave owners, feudal barons and colonial Empires before declaring, “Nous allons, wir gehen, we're off!"

Ms Widdecome was the first Brexit Party MEP to speak in the Strasbourg parliament after May's European elections on Thursday.

"There is a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on their oppressors, slaves against their owners, the peasantry against the feudal barons, colonies against their empires and that is why Britain is leaving," she said.

"It doesn’t matter which language you use, we are going and we are glad to be going," the former Tory shadow home...

F ucking hell, she's gone full retard! And not simply Farrage full retard, she's found a Brexit amp where the nutter level goes to 11!

Jesus.f**king.Christ

Maybe she is just frustrated that the EU has stymied funding for her research into gay conversion pills

Farrage was heard laughing throughout her performance. A Lib Dem apologised afterwards on the behalf of us sane people.

Leffe wrote:

BokJock wrote:

Leffe wrote:

Ann Widdecombe sparked howls of rage in the European Parliament after comparing the EU to "oppressors" such as slave owners, feudal barons and colonial Empires before declaring, “Nous allons, wir gehen, we're off!"

Ms Widdecome was the first Brexit Party MEP to speak in the Strasbourg parliament after May's European elections on Thursday.

"There is a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on their oppressors, slaves against their owners, the peasantry against the feudal barons, colonies against their empires and that is why Britain is leaving," she said.

"It doesn’t matter which language you use, we are going and we are glad to be going," the former Tory shadow home...

F ucking hell, she's gone full retard! And not simply Farrage full retard, she's found a Brexit amp where the nutter level goes to 11!

Jesus.f**king.Christ

Maybe she is just frustrated that the EU has stymied funding for her research into gay conversion pills

Farrage was heard laughing throughout her performance. A Lib Dem apologised afterwards on the behalf of us sane people.

msp. wrote:
As much as it seems "full retard", there are a lot of people who agree with her view that the EU is some sort of oppressor and we need freedom.. Which is why all the economic arguments are pointless.

Freedom to them is worth any cost..

Leffe wrote:

BokJock wrote:

Leffe wrote:

Ann Widdecombe sparked howls of rage in the European Parliament after comparing the EU to "oppressors" such as slave owners, feudal barons and colonial Empires before declaring, “Nous allons, wir gehen, we're off!"

Ms Widdecome was the first Brexit Party MEP to speak in the Strasbourg parliament after May's European elections on Thursday.

"There is a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on their oppressors, slaves against their owners, the peasantry against the feudal barons, colonies against their empires and that is why Britain is leaving," she said.

"It doesn’t matter which language you use, we are going and we are glad to be going," the former Tory shadow home...

F ucking hell, she's gone full retard! And not simply Farrage full retard, she's found a Brexit amp where the nutter level goes to 11!

Jesus.f**king.Christ

Maybe she is just frustrated that the EU has stymied funding for her research into gay conversion pills

Farrage was heard laughing throughout her performance. A Lib Dem apologised afterwards on the behalf of us sane people.

Leffe wrote:

msp. wrote:
As much as it seems "full retard", there are a lot of people who agree with her view that the EU is some sort of oppressor and we need freedom.. Which is why all the economic arguments are pointless.

Freedom to them is worth any cost..

Even though I have more freedom here, in Euro-land that Brits in Britain...

Her "views" are nothing more than the misguided popularist propaganda of angry, elderly, white people.

Leffe wrote:

msp. wrote:
As much as it seems "full retard", there are a lot of people who agree with her view that the EU is some sort of oppressor and we need freedom.. Which is why all the economic arguments are pointless.

Freedom to them is worth any cost..

Even though I have more freedom here, in Euro-land that Brits in Britain...

Her "views" are nothing more than the misguided popularist propaganda of angry, elderly, white people.

Guy Verhofstadt
✔
@guyverhofstadt
Nigel Farage facing some stiff competition as chief clown of the Brexit Party in the @Europarl_EN. By the way, when Widdecombe talks about “colonies liberating themselves from their empires”, is she really referring to the American Revolution of 1776?

msp. wrote:

Leffe wrote:

msp. wrote:
As much as it seems "full retard", there are a lot of people who agree with her view that the EU is some sort of oppressor and we need freedom.. Which is why all the economic arguments are pointless.

Freedom to them is worth any cost..

Even though I have more freedom here, in Euro-land that Brits in Britain...

Her "views" are nothing more than the misguided popularist propaganda of angry, elderly, white people.

Maybe misgided but not just the view of elderly, white people...

The out of hand dismissal of their views is one of the reasons why we are in this mess. i.e. the dismissal of any one who questioned the immigration in the early 2000's as racists - even though it did raise practical points rather like catering for a party expecting 50 people but having 100 people turn up.

Although as a group there are not predisposed to see reason that contradicts their own views.

msp. wrote:Freedom to them is worth any cost..

• Ann Widdecombe, the Brexit party MEP and former Tory minister, has been branded “offensive” and a “clown” after likening EU membership to slavery.

• Jeremy Hunt, the underdog in the Tory leadership contest, has said the ban on foxhunting will not be repealed. He had to clarify his position after he provoked anger with an interview implying the ban might by lifted under his premiership if the Tories won a majority at the next election. (See 9.08am.)

• Hunt’s plan to end the funding crisis in adult social care has been described as unworkable by Michael Forsyth, the Tory peer who chairs a Lords committee that has just published a report on the topic. (See 12.05pm.)

• Germany will stand fully in “solidarity” with Ireland over Brexit, the country’s president has said, and look to “underpin rather than undermine” the peace process that has kept the border with Northern Ireland invisible in the past 20 years.

• Hunt has refused to rule out imposing sanctions on China and expelling its diplomats in an escalating row over Hong Kong.

• George Osborne’s interest in running the International Monetary Fund has met immediate criticism because of the former Chancellor’s austerity policies and Brexit-related question marks over the UK’s international standing.

• Conservative donors have spent lavish sums on hunting trips and champagne parties at a fundraising auction attended by the prime minister, Theresa May, and her potential successors, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt.

• Policing is under huge strain, struggling to meet rising demand and radical reform is needed, Sir Tom Winsor, the chief inspector of constabulary, has said.

derriz wrote:

Mick Mannock wrote:Legarde will simply be a figurehead. A figurehead on a massive salary. She is a lawyer. All the heavy-lifting will be done by others. Has she ever shown anything that suggests she can run the ECB?

She worked her way up to become the first woman head of a major US international law firm while specialising in ompetition law. First woman to lead the IMF. Pro-trade, economically and socially liberal as French trade minster. Her CV stands up pretty well - she's had plenty of experience in the top tier of international finance and not being a professional economist could almost be seen as a plus. But being French/European and/or a woman has driven you and Bimbo into a frenzy.

Seneca of the Night wrote:

Leffe wrote:

msp. wrote:
As much as it seems "full retard", there are a lot of people who agree with her view that the EU is some sort of oppressor and we need freedom.. Which is why all the economic arguments are pointless.

Freedom to them is worth any cost..

Even though I have more freedom here, in Euro-land that Brits in Britain...

Her "views" are nothing more than the misguided popularist propaganda of angry, elderly, white people.

Are you not white?

normilet wrote:Lunch time summary of the day so far according to the Independent:

• Ann Widdecombe, the Brexit party MEP and former Tory minister, has been branded “offensive” and a “clown” after likening EU membership to slavery.

• Jeremy Hunt, the underdog in the Tory leadership contest, has said the ban on foxhunting will not be repealed. He had to clarify his position after he provoked anger with an interview implying the ban might by lifted under his premiership if the Tories won a majority at the next election. (See 9.08am.)

• Hunt’s plan to end the funding crisis in adult social care has been described as unworkable by Michael Forsyth, the Tory peer who chairs a Lords committee that has just published a report on the topic. (See 12.05pm.)

• Germany will stand fully in “solidarity” with Ireland over Brexit, the country’s president has said, and look to “underpin rather than undermine” the peace process that has kept the border with Northern Ireland invisible in the past 20 years.

• Hunt has refused to rule out imposing sanctions on China and expelling its diplomats in an escalating row over Hong Kong.

• George Osborne’s interest in running the International Monetary Fund has met immediate criticism because of the former Chancellor’s austerity policies and Brexit-related question marks over the UK’s international standing.

• Conservative donors have spent lavish sums on hunting trips and champagne parties at a fundraising auction attended by the prime minister, Theresa May, and her potential successors, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt.

• Policing is under huge strain, struggling to meet rising demand and radical reform is needed, Sir Tom Winsor, the chief inspector of constabulary, has said.

Leffe wrote:

msp. wrote:
As much as it seems "full retard", there are a lot of people who agree with her view that the EU is some sort of oppressor and we need freedom.. Which is why all the economic arguments are pointless.

Freedom to them is worth any cost..

Even though I have more freedom here, in Euro-land that Brits in Britain...

Her "views" are nothing more than the misguided popularist propaganda of angry, elderly, white people.

Leffe wrote:

msp. wrote:
As much as it seems "full retard", there are a lot of people who agree with her view that the EU is some sort of oppressor and we need freedom.. Which is why all the economic arguments are pointless.

Freedom to them is worth any cost..

Even though I have more freedom here, in Euro-land that Brits in Britain...

Her "views" are nothing more than the misguided popularist propaganda of angry, elderly, white people.

bimboman wrote:

Leffe wrote:

msp. wrote:
As much as it seems "full retard", there are a lot of people who agree with her view that the EU is some sort of oppressor and we need freedom.. Which is why all the economic arguments are pointless.

Freedom to them is worth any cost..

Even though I have more freedom here, in Euro-land that Brits in Britain...

Her "views" are nothing more than the misguided popularist propaganda of angry, elderly, white people.

How on earth are you judging “more” ? Made up stuff again.

Leffe wrote:

Ann Widdecombe sparked howls of rage in the European Parliament after comparing the EU to "oppressors" such as slave owners, feudal barons and colonial Empires before declaring, “Nous allons, wir gehen, we're off!"

Ms Widdecome was the first Brexit Party MEP to speak in the Strasbourg parliament after May's European elections on Thursday.

"There is a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on their oppressors, slaves against their owners, the peasantry against the feudal barons, colonies against their empires and that is why Britain is leaving," she said.

"It doesn’t matter which language you use, we are going and we are glad to be going," the former Tory shadow home...

F ucking hell, she's gone full retard! And not simply Farrage full retard, she's found a Brexit amp where the nutter level goes to 11!

Sandstorm wrote:Chancellor: “Brexit will cost the UK around £90billion in the event of No Deal”

Mick Mannock wrote:

Leffe wrote:

Ann Widdecombe sparked howls of rage in the European Parliament after comparing the EU to "oppressors" such as slave owners, feudal barons and colonial Empires before declaring, “Nous allons, wir gehen, we're off!"

Ms Widdecome was the first Brexit Party MEP to speak in the Strasbourg parliament after May's European elections on Thursday.

"There is a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on their oppressors, slaves against their owners, the peasantry against the feudal barons, colonies against their empires and that is why Britain is leaving," she said.

"It doesn’t matter which language you use, we are going and we are glad to be going," the former Tory shadow home...

F ucking hell, she's gone full retard! And not simply Farrage full retard, she's found a Brexit amp where the nutter level goes to 11!

She is totally correct. The Euro and the mugs who adopted it are increasingly holding populations in a form of slavery.

Mick Mannock wrote:

Leffe wrote:

Ann Widdecombe sparked howls of rage in the European Parliament after comparing the EU to "oppressors" such as slave owners, feudal barons and colonial Empires before declaring, “Nous allons, wir gehen, we're off!"

Ms Widdecome was the first Brexit Party MEP to speak in the Strasbourg parliament after May's European elections on Thursday.

"There is a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on their oppressors, slaves against their owners, the peasantry against the feudal barons, colonies against their empires and that is why Britain is leaving," she said.

"It doesn’t matter which language you use, we are going and we are glad to be going," the former Tory shadow home...

F ucking hell, she's gone full retard! And not simply Farrage full retard, she's found a Brexit amp where the nutter level goes to 11!

She is totally correct. The Euro and the mugs who adopted it are increasingly holding populations in a form of slavery.

Mick Mannock wrote:

Leffe wrote:

Ann Widdecombe sparked howls of rage in the European Parliament after comparing the EU to "oppressors" such as slave owners, feudal barons and colonial Empires before declaring, “Nous allons, wir gehen, we're off!"

Ms Widdecome was the first Brexit Party MEP to speak in the Strasbourg parliament after May's European elections on Thursday.

"There is a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on their oppressors, slaves against their owners, the peasantry against the feudal barons, colonies against their empires and that is why Britain is leaving," she said.

"It doesn’t matter which language you use, we are going and we are glad to be going," the former Tory shadow home...

F ucking hell, she's gone full retard! And not simply Farrage full retard, she's found a Brexit amp where the nutter level goes to 11!

She is totally correct. The Euro and the mugs who adopted it are increasingly holding populations in a form of slavery.

Mick Mannock wrote:

Leffe wrote:

Ann Widdecombe sparked howls of rage in the European Parliament after comparing the EU to "oppressors" such as slave owners, feudal barons and colonial Empires before declaring, “Nous allons, wir gehen, we're off!"

Ms Widdecome was the first Brexit Party MEP to speak in the Strasbourg parliament after May's European elections on Thursday.

"There is a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on their oppressors, slaves against their owners, the peasantry against the feudal barons, colonies against their empires and that is why Britain is leaving," she said.

"It doesn’t matter which language you use, we are going and we are glad to be going," the former Tory shadow home...

F ucking hell, she's gone full retard! And not simply Farrage full retard, she's found a Brexit amp where the nutter level goes to 11!

She is totally correct. The Euro and the mugs who adopted it are increasingly holding populations in a form of slavery.

SamShark wrote:I guess it won't be long before we go all the way and say it was the "will of the people" to hate all Europeans.

It's the next step from "no deal" being the absolute cast iron will of the people.

The Brexit Party should just stick to taking the wage and drinking in the bars like UKIP, rather than disrespecting a load of MEPs who had nothing to do with the "BETRAYAL"

The European parliament’s political groups have united to condemn the selection of the next European Commission president, branding the process an undemocratic stitch-up by national governments.

EU leaders chose Ursula von der Leyen as their pick to replace Jean-Claude Juncker as the leader of the European Union’s executive branch despite the fact she was not on the ballot paper as a candidate and has no manifesto.

The European Council effectively ignored the European parliament’s spitzenkandidat, or “lead candidate” system, which was supposed to inject an element of democracy into the selection of commission president – instead nominating the defence minister, who is largely unknown outside Germany.

“I’m not going to congratulate the council. President Tusk, I cannot support how things were done and the lack of respect that you’ve shown to other institutions,” said Gonzalez Pons, spokesperson for the dominant centre-right EPP group in the parliament. The EPP’s criticism of the process is notable because Ms Von der Leyen, a member of Angela Merkel’s CDU party, is actually a member of the EPP.


EU leaders back Ursula von der Leyen to be commission president
Mr Pons continued: “The future of Europe can no longer be decided behind closed doors. The spizenkandidat process is not about one person or one name – the citizens of Europe want to elect the person who is governing Europe. This is not revolutionary, this is democracy.

“The council has the right to propose a candidate to lead the commission to lead the parliament. However, what the council doesn’t have the right to do is to ignore all the candidates that have been voted for by European citizens.” He said the approach of carving up other top jobs taken by EU leaders was “clearly against the treaties”.


“You were telling the parliament who it should nominate as president of our chamber! You are now at the point where you’re deciding who is in charge of the ECB [European Central Bank] as if there was one more political nomination. This is not democracy – you are supporting the Eurosceptics, even the nationalists. None of the presidents on the council would accept this being done in their countries. It would be taken to a constitutional court,” he said.

Iratxe García Perez, leader of the second largest group, the centre-left socialists, said EU leaders can’t “come here and just lay out the council position and say that we have to vote for it”.

“We believe that it should have been Frans Timmermans to lead the commission because he was the spizenkandidat who could have achieved a majority of votes in this parliament and also because of the democratic rules that we’ve established,” she added.

Dacian Ciolos, leader of the liberal Renew Europe group set up by Emmanuel Macron, called for a constitutional convention to overhaul the process.

“What we need first and foremost is to democratise the process of appointing leadership roles in the EU. We can discuss names, gender balance, geographic balance: but for as long as we don’t have a transparent, democratic process for selecting those who lead Europe, we will not have achieved satisfaction,” he told MEPs.

He said his group would propose “a conference with a sufficient duration, two years, two-and-a-half years” to democratise the electoral process in the EU “so that by the next elections we have a mechanism in place”.

But Donald Tusk, the European Council president, who looked uncomfortable sitting through the speeches in the parliament, defended the approach taken by the council.

“To some the parliament represents genuine European democracy because of its directly elected members, while to others it is the European Council because of the strong democratic legitimacy of the leaders. Such disputes make little sense as both institutions are democratic,” he told MEPs.

Despite the furore, it is yet to be seen whether MEPs – who technically have a veto on the appointment – will block the council’s choice. Philippe Lamberts, co-leader of the Green group, admonished his fellow MEPs for not standing up to the council, warning: “It’s easy to criticise the heads of state and government but I wanted to say to all of you in this house that if the parliament is emerging from this episode in a weaker position then it only has itself to blame.”

Under the spitzenkandidat system agreed by the parliament, each political group nominated a candidate, who stood on an identifiable manifesto, for commission president. The candidate from the winning group – or one who could command a majority across the parliament – would have become leader of he EU’s executive. However, European Union leaders refused to write the system into law and ignored it when the time came – carving up the top jobs at a three-day summit in Brussels.