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In the context of the first part of the 2024 session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), MEP Mr. George Loucaides participated yesterday in a debate in the plenary session of the House on the instrumentalisation of the immigration issue in election campaigns and the consequences in terms of reception and rights of migrants
Speaking on behalf of the Group of the European United Left, Mr. Speaking on behalf of the Group of the European United European Union, Mr Loucaides said that the distortion of the immigration issue and the manipulation of citizens by far-right groups is now a frequent phenomenon, given the rise of xenophobic discourse and the normalisation of political discrimination in the field of election campaigns. He underlined that such tactics not only trivialise the humanitarian aspect of the migration issue, but also sustain and reproduce hatred, thus creating the background for further verbal, psychological and physical violence against migrants. It is worrying, he added, that conservative forces are systematically trying to target those without a voice, namely refugees and migrants. It is equally important to realise that behind the numbers, there are human faces, he added. The MP also stressed that it is the responsibility of lawmakers to ensure that electoral procedures do not endanger the fundamental rights of refugees and migrants, nor the right of voters to participate in free and fair elections.
Loukaidis pointed out that political parties should prohibit and condemn the use of hate speech by their members, especially during election campaigns. Besides, he added, the revised Charter of European Political Parties for a non-racist and inclusive society is an important tool in this direction, as is the Venice Commission's Code of Good Practice on Electoral Issues. Equally useful, he stressed, is the drafting of codes of conduct by Member States to regulate the content of candidates' political programmes, as well as media coverage of election campaigns. Responsible information and coverage of events, in order to avoid populism and the rise of xenophobia and discrimination against refugees and migrants, is considered particularly important, the MEP concluded.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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