Hautala lost post over reform pace

Date: 06/12/01

DEFEATED European

Parliament Green group president Heidi Hautala (left) says she was "forced out" of the job after disagreements with party colleagues over the pace of internal reforms.

Hautala, co-president of the Green/European Free Alliance group for the past two and a half years, stood for re-election to the post last week. But she withdrew from the race after attracting insufficient votes in the first round.

Italian-born Belgian MEP Monica Frassoni was eventually elected and will share presidency of the 45-strong group with French deputy Daniel Cohn-Bendit.

The group is understood to be bitterly split over its response to the US-led military action in Afghanistan.

Hautala this week told European Voice she had been the victim of wrangling within the group about the pace of reform.

She said: "I had actually taken the initiative to introduce reforms within the group but there were some who wanted very quick, far-reaching changes. I was not in favour of this. I preferred reforms to be introduced at a slower pace and this obviously cost me votes.

"I was keen to remain as president but my position on the pace of reform was the one thing that probably forced me out of the job. You could say some wanted revolution whereas I wanted reform."

She added: "I am not bitter, however, and it was the right of the group's members to vote the way they wished."

The former co-president of the European Parliament's Green/European Free Alliance group, Heidi Hautala, says she was 'forced out' of the job after disagreements with party colleagues over the pace of internal reforms.