Debate: Short presentations by the candidates for election to the office of the President
Date: TUESDAY, 18 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Alice Kuhnke
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Mr President, dear colleagues, I was 10 years old the first time I picked up the phone and a Nazi told me that I didn’t belong in Sweden, where I was born and raised. He said he would kill me and my family if we didn’t leave the country – my home country.  The threats never stopped, but my fear became anger and my anger became political action. I am European. I am elected by the people. A Member of this House. And I stand before you as the Greens/EFA candidate for President of this Parliament.  To those of you who keep telling me that I don’t belong, you are wrong. The pro-democratic majority of this House will never allow you to define who belongs to this Parliament or to our European family. Standing here today my thoughts go to our dear colleague, the late President Sassoli. He will be remembered for his seemingly effortless commitment to the European project and the work of this House. Let us honour his legacy by standing up together for fundamental rights, European solidarity and a European Union for all.  There are three little words written at the bottom of every resolution, every report and every legislative position in this House. Three small words that connect us all: united in diversity. I believe in a European Parliament of diversity, but believing in diversity as a strength also means we must defend this European project. The fundamental rights of EU citizens and the rules of democracy are not negotiable.  As your President, I will listen to and learn from those who stand up for their rights and our common future. From young people demanding climate justice to minorities demanding a seat at the table and brave Europeans risking their own safety to help migrants at our common borders. When governments tell our citizens that they do not have the right to decide over their own bodies, we must stand with them. As your President, I would honour the legacy of the former President Simon Veil with an initiative to reward individuals and organisations fighting for sexual and reproductive health and rights wherever they are challenged in Europe.  Dear colleagues, we must earn and protect the trust of our citizens by delivering on the biggest challenges that people around Europe face today. So let this Parliament be a force for social justice, green transition and fair recovery for all. This Parliament has declared a climate emergency. Let us act on it by ensuring that the Commission delivers on the Green Deal. Let’s raise the bar for climate action and the protection of biodiversity, and let’s earn the title as guardian of the treaties, when the Commission fails to fulfil this role. This House must lead by example. As your President, I will work tirelessly for a European Parliament where diversity is an asset, not a disadvantage. Zero tolerance on sexism is possible. Let us make anti-harassment training mandatory. Let’s create an equal workplace with flexible methods. Let’s ensure transparency and internal democracy in this House, ending the time of back-room dealings.  Let us practice what we preach by making sure our own institution is a front-runner in the green transition. For example, by adding solar panels on the 20 000 square metres of flat roof available on our buildings here in Strasbourg.  We have had the courage to take on the Commission and the Council when it was necessary in the past. As your President, I will fight for a feminist parliament that defends and protects. Let us be courageous again.  Mr President, colleagues, before I finish. You cannot be what you cannot see. To all the 10-year-old girls out there who are told that you do not belong, with this candidacy I want to show you that you do. The European Parliament, this House, is yours.