EU's Juncker calls empty European Parl 'ridiculous'

A low turn out for a debate at the European Parliament (EP) on Tuesday prompted European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to denounce the assembly as "ridiculous" and not "serious". Juncker lambasted that only around 30 members of the EP turned up for a debate on Malta's presidency of the Council of the European Union, BBC reported. Standing up in an almost empty chamber in Strasbourg, he denounced the body as "ridiculous, totally ridiculous". Juncker said the poor showing proved that the Parliament was "not serious".

He said the assembly in Strasbourg would have been full if the debate had involved powerful figures such as French President Emmanuel Macron or German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Juncker's comments drew protest from Parliament chief Antonio Tajani who accused the European Commission chief of a "lack of respect". The EP is composed of 751 directly elected lawmakers from the EU's 28 member states.