Jean-Claude Juncker blasted for attending ceremony marking the 200th anniversary of Karl Marx’s birth
Chief Eurocrat Jean-Claude Juncker received criticism from across the globe after giving a speech during the ceremony to mark 200 years since the birth of Marx
BRUSSELS boss Jean-Claude Juncker sparked fury across Europe last night as he joined celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of Karl Marx’s birth.
The chief eurocrat was attacked by politicians worldwide who had urged him not to attend the bash in honour of the founder of Communism.
He delivered a speech to an event in Trier, Germany, at which a statue of the left-wing revolutionary donated by the Chinese government, was unveiled.
Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski, whose family fled Soviet ruled Poland, said Mr Juncker’s attendance was in poor taste.
He raged: “Marxism led to the killing of millions around the world as it allowed a small band of fanatics to suppress the people.
“We must learn the lessons from this and share with our children.”
Politicians from Eastern Europe, much of which was subjected to the misery of Communist rule, were also enraged.
A group of Hungarian MEPs decried the EU Commission chief for gracing the event, which marked the 200th anniversary of Marx’s birth.
In a statement they said: “This is particularly appalling for the citizens of countries which suffered for decades under Communist dictatorships.
“We oppose the European Commission head’s supportive presence at the celebration.”
Meanwhile the leader of the Swedish delegation of MEPs for Mr Juncker’s own pan-European party also laid into him.
Gunnar Hökmark said: “There are many good reasons to deny commemorating some of the worst parts of European history, the victims of totalitarian dictatorships are some.
“It’s rather their history that should be remembered, not the ideologies that cost them their lives.”
And there was condemnation from across the Atlantic too, with the US congressional group on victims of communism urging Mr Juncker to boycott the event.
In a letter they urged him “not to honour Karl Marx in any way, rather to speak the truth about this man whose writing indeed called for the tyranny and murder that have been and continue to be committed in his name.”
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The EU Commission defended his attendance, with a spokeswoman saying he had been invited because he is an honorary citizen of Trier, where Marx was born.
She said: “President Juncker is very well aware of the historical facts and sensitivities.
“Whatever peoples’ views on Karl Marx, I think that nobody can deny that Karl Marx is a figure who shaped history in one way or another.
“Not speaking of him would come close to denying history.”