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UK MEP attacks new EU president UK MEP attacks new EU president
(30 minutes later)
A British Eurosceptic MEP has unleashed a volley of insults against EU President Herman van Rompuy. A British Eurosceptic MEP has unleashed a volley of insults against the President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy.
Nigel Farage, of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), said Mr Van Rompuy had "the charisma of a damp rag". Nigel Farage, UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader, said Mr Van Rompuy had "the charisma of a damp rag".
His comments were made before a shocked chamber in Brussels as the newly appointed EU president made his first appearance before the parliament.
He compared the former Belgian prime minister to a "low-grade bank clerk" and said he came from a "non-country".He compared the former Belgian prime minister to a "low-grade bank clerk" and said he came from a "non-country".
"Who are you? I'd never heard of you, nobody in Europe had ever heard of you," Mr Farage thundered as noisy disapproval at his intervention in the chamber rose. The attack, which stunned the chamber, came as Mr Von Rompuy made his maiden appearance in parliament in Brussels.
I have no doubt that your intention is to be the quiet assassin of European democracy and of European nation states Nigel Farage, British MP from UK Independence Party class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8358504.stm">Profile: Herman van Rompuy "I don't want to be rude," Mr Farage began, before launching into a personal attack lasting several minutes.
"Who are you? I'd never heard of you, nobody in Europe had ever heard of you," Mr Farage thundered, as noisy disapproval at his intervention in the chamber rose.
'Competent and dangerous'
"Oh, I know democracy is not popular with you lot," he said, addressing the members of parliament as they voiced their surprise."Oh, I know democracy is not popular with you lot," he said, addressing the members of parliament as they voiced their surprise.
There was one contribution that I can only hold in contempt, but I'm not going to comment further Herman van Rompuy, president of European Council Profile: Herman van Rompuy
Mr Farage - known for his outspoken interventions - did, however, admit that he thought Mr Van Rompuy was "competent and capable", adding that this made him "dangerous".Mr Farage - known for his outspoken interventions - did, however, admit that he thought Mr Van Rompuy was "competent and capable", adding that this made him "dangerous".
"I have no doubt that your intention is to be the quiet assassin of European democracy and of European nation states," he said."I have no doubt that your intention is to be the quiet assassin of European democracy and of European nation states," he said.
Mr Farage's party, UKIP, campaigns for the withdrawal of Britain from the European Union.Mr Farage's party, UKIP, campaigns for the withdrawal of Britain from the European Union.
"You seem to have a loathing for the very concept of the existence of nation states," he continued, adding: "Perhaps that's because you come from Belgium, which is pretty much a non-country.""You seem to have a loathing for the very concept of the existence of nation states," he continued, adding: "Perhaps that's because you come from Belgium, which is pretty much a non-country."
Mr Van Rompuy, 62, was chosen unanimously by the governments of the EU's 27 member states to take on the role of the first permanent European Council president.Mr Van Rompuy, 62, was chosen unanimously by the governments of the EU's 27 member states to take on the role of the first permanent European Council president.
Described as camera-shy and sometimes given the nickname the "grey mouse", he is seen as a coalition builder, credited for steering linguistically divided Belgium out of crisis.Described as camera-shy and sometimes given the nickname the "grey mouse", he is seen as a coalition builder, credited for steering linguistically divided Belgium out of crisis.
In a typically low-key response to the comments, Mr Van Rompuy said: "There was one contribution that I can only hold in contempt, but I'm not going to comment further."