Mitchell in Nazi voting row

FINE Gael MEP Gay Mitchell was accused of arrogance yesterday after referring to the German public voting for Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime, or the Third Reich, in a discussion on the Irish public’s rejection of the Lisbon treaty.

In an interview on RTÉ Radio, Mr Mitchell dismissed the idea that all members of the EU should get a vote on the treaty and suggested that one country should not overrule the wishes of all others.

“The Germans voted for the Third Reich, the people outside Caesar’s Palace voted for the Crucifixion of Christ. What has a referendum got to do with it?”

He made the remarks in a heated debate with businessman Ulick McEvaddy who supported a no vote in the Lisbon treaty referendum.

“There are 27 member states. If we have a referendum across Europe, are you telling me that if 51% of the people vote yes then it’s the decision of the people?

“Or are you saying that if it’s carried by a 25 million majority, but Luxembourg defeats it by 100,000, then the decision is no?” he said.

Mr McEvaddy responded: “Gay’s attitude is all wrong. His attitude is one of arrogance: that the Government knows best, or that parliamentarians know best.

“The attitude Gay displayed there is one of the very reasons why — if it was put to the people in a referendum again — the people would say no. They would say: ‘no, the parliamentarians do not know best, we the people have the right to vote on this’.”