Europe puts off Libertas decision

THE European Parliament last night postponed officially recognising the Libertas party after receiving a letter from the founder Declan Ganley.

Two weeks ago the parliament shelved a decision to recognise Libertas and grant it funding of more than e200,000 when two of the seven signatories said they never intended to support them.

Millionaire businessman Mr Ganley has now offered more names to the parliament president Hans Gert Pottering.

Mr Pottering has asked the parliament’s legal experts to investigate whether they can be accepted given that the deadline has passed.

Formal recognition would entitle Libertas to about e220,000 made up of e100,000 given to every party and about e40,000 for each of the three MEPs.

Last month the party was at first granted official recognition but two of the signatories, Mincho Kuminev, a Bulgarian parliamentarian, and Igor Grazin, a member of the Estonian Parliament, insisted they were not supporting Libertas.

As a result, Libertas was short members from seven EU countries needed to qualify as a European party. The revelation dramatically led to the parliament withdrawing its recognition.