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Tweets of the Week: Puigdemont is arrested, Oettinger is tested, Zuckerberg won’t attest it!

By Jennifer Baker, Malte Ketelsen and Tess Vrbin | EURACTIV.com

30-03-2018 (updated: 04-06-2018 )

  • This week in Germany, Puigdemont is arrested, defending Martin Selmayr, Oettinger is tested, and Facebook tampering with Brexit? Zuckerberg won’t attest it!

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont was arrested and detained in Germany on a European Arrest Warrant on Sunday. 

But Germany won’t extradite if fundamental rights are threatened, reported Rob Howse.

After the judge hearing the Puigdemont case said extradition may be “inadmissible.”

Teivo Teivainen‏ queried whether the independence movements in Catalonia had been violent? Or if any violence could be attributed to Puigdemont?

But on Wednesday, protesters demonstrating against Puigdemont’s detention blocked highways across Catalonia and roads in central Barcelona.

James Crisp asked: “Am I the only person who thinks Puigdemont deserves to be in prison for being stupid enough to drive around Europe when he is a wanted man?”

Errrr, kinda, James.

Speaking of wanted or indeed unwanted men, the Commission released its response to MEPs’ questions about Martin Selmayr’s appointment as secretary general in the latest edition of #SelmayrGate…

…at the highly suspicious time of 3am on Sunday. 

2,300 words and 80 pages published at Trump o’clock won’t convince many, said Jack Parrock.

And MEPs definitely weren’t satisfied. On Wednesday, they grilled Human Resources Commissioner Gunther Oettinger, who was apparently like a cat chasing his tail.

Indeed, many of them laughed when Oetti explained that Selmayr took part in drafting the 80-page response to “ensure the information was complete.” 

And in a master performance of understatement, Oettinger admitted that Selmayr’s promotion “could have been done better.”

As for the timing of the release, that was just a coincidence! 

But while Parliament accuses the Commission of cronyism and shady backroom deals, it’s allegedly not so innocent. “People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones,” said Maïa de La Baume. 

Cue Berlaymonster: 

Parliament will vote on #SelmayrGate in April. Spoof account Martini Seltzermayr asked, “Anyone have a number for Cambridge Analytica?”

He may well ask. On Tuesday, a former Cambridge Analytica employee revealed that the Brexit campaign used data that the company stole from Facebook users to sway the referendum.

If they hadn’t done that, the vote could have gone the other way, Chris Wylie told the UK Parliament.

He said this “breach of the law” was cheating.

Jamie Ross likened Wylie trying to explain social media to MPs to a patient grandson trying to set up a Skype call with his gran.

Theresa May didn’t want to talk about the situation. “The referendum was held, the vote was taken and we will be delivering on it,” she said. Gee, thanks Maybot!

This is an astonishing response, said Alex Andreou. Valuing political expediency over The Rule of Law.

Mark Zuckerberg responded to the scandal by publishing an apology letter in UK newspapers.

But won’t testify before the UK Parliament. 

After Wylie’s testimony, that’s cowardly and completely unacceptable, said Tom Watson.

This week we are supported by Eurochild, who report that the Welsh government is bringing child participation to the political agenda by asking kids’ opinion on Brexit. 

That’ll be interesting!

That’s it for this week, join me again next week for more dramatic developments in the Brussels Bubble Twittersphere and send in your suggestion using the hashtag #EUTweets.

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