European elections: Smaller parties sharply criticize blocking clause

The smaller German parties in the European Parliament are resisting the introduction of a blocking clause in the European elections, as decided in the Bundestag. „We demand democratic participation“, said MEP Manuela Ripa of the ÖDP in Berlin on Monday. On top of that, the blocking clause is unconstitutional, she added. Volt MEP Damian Boeselager spoke of abuse of power by the larger parties and called the procedure anti-democratic.