MEP makes hasty exit, there’s still no movement over Brexit, and new Covid vaccine the UK gets it.
No prizes for guessing our top story this week….
Thank you Jozsef Szajer, for the gift that keeps on giving.
In case you’ve been living under a rock for the last few days, the far right Fidez MEP was caught breaking the COVID19 social distancing rules at a “gay gangbang.”
As Bruno Waterfield explained, police broke up the party of at least 25 men as Szajer tried to flee through a window, injured himself, before trying to claim European Parliament.
Story of the day
Police break up "gang bang" involving 25 men including at least 1 MEP as well as diplomats in central Brussels bar
The unnamed MEP tried to flee through s window but injured himself before claiming European Parliament immunity
Who was he?https://t.co/WvswiHLoOd— Bruno Waterfield (@BrunoBrussels) December 1, 2020
Making sure that everyone would get the correct news, Hungarian journalist Sándor Zsíros gave a quick tutorial about how to pronounce the name József Szájer:
A quick tutorial about how to pronounce the name József Szájer: pic.twitter.com/PNfQNqL8nb
— Sándor Zsíros (@EuroSandor) December 1, 2020
Le Chou was surprised that MEPs actually have sex lives!
SHOCK NEWS OUT OF BRUSSELS: MEPs Actually Have Sex Lives? pic.twitter.com/6ScaIWcXXL
— Le Chou (@LeChouNews) December 1, 2020
Simon Nichelson ran a poll for an official hashtag:
And Twitter has spokedn: So sex and drugs and EP payroll it is then!
Can we decide on the official hashtag for this? Other suggestions welcome. @Berlaymonster @mseltzermayr
— Simon Nichelson (@SimonNichelson) December 1, 2020
Ryanair, never one to miss a marketing opportunity suggested there are better ways to leave Brussels than shinning down a gutter.
looking to make a quick escape from Brussels?
we have flights from just €14.99 (in this case we don't recommend the window seat) https://t.co/zzqT5Fgl2e
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) December 1, 2020
However many rightly focussed on Szájer’s hypocrisy, not only a close ally of Viktor Orbán, he personally re-wrote Hungary’s constitution to include the line: “Hungary shall protect the institution of marriage as the union of a man & a woman…”
1/ Why does it matter that Viktor Orbán’s close friend and ally, MEP József Szájer was caught having an orgy with 20+ men? Very simple. While he was enjoying himself in LGBT-friendly Brussels, he made life for LGBT people in Hungary miserable by rewriting the constitution. THREAD pic.twitter.com/uvMrD5WnwS
— Szabolcs Panyi (@panyiszabolcs) December 1, 2020
And has done more than most to undermine LGBT rights in the country.
In less exciting news, the interminable Brexit talks rumble on, as reporters run out of ways to say “the clock is ticking”
Sources from both the UK and EU Brexit teams said they are bemused by the idea that talks have “entered the tunnel”. One said “negotiations cannot become any more intense.”
Sources from both UK and EU Brexit teams tell me they are bemused by idea that talks have "entered the tunnel".
One says "negotiations cannot become any more intense."— Adam Parsons (@adamparsons) December 1, 2020
Martini Seltzermayr reckons the only reason Brexit negotiators would enter a tunnel is to brick it up!
BREAKING: Brexit negotiators have entered the Tunnel, in order to brick it up
— Martini Seltzermayr (@mseltzermayr) December 2, 2020
Is that light at the end of said tunnel? No, it’s just Michel Barnier dragging himself out to brief EU27 ambassadors on the state of the play in the negotiations.
Michel Barnier is going to leave that Brexit trade tunnel tomorrow morning to brief EU27 ambassadors on the state of the play in the negotiations.
— Joe Barnes (@Barnes_Joe) December 1, 2020
Spoiler alert: there’s no change!
As Tom Newton Dunn reported, it appears the four-day tunnel has failed. Barnier told ambassadors that “a deal hangs in the balance”. “Differences still persist on the three main issues”.
It appears the four day tunnel has failed. Barnier has just reported back to EU ambassadors in Brussels that "a deal hangs in the balance". "Differences still persist on the three main issues".
— Tom Newton Dunn (@tnewtondunn) December 2, 2020
Plus ca change.
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— Deliver4Europe (@Deliver4Europe) November 19, 2020
This week the UK also announced that it would be administering Covid 19 vaccinations.
Well played scientists. Happy vaccine day, everyone, tweeted Gary Linker.
Well played scientists. Happy vaccine day, everyone. 🙌🏻
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) December 2, 2020
But echoes of Brexit soon loomed.
Brexiteer and recliner in chief, MP Jacob Rees-Mogg claimed “We could only approve this vaccine so quickly because we have left the EU.”
We could only approve this vaccine so quickly because we have left the EU. Last month we changed the regulations so a vaccine did not need EU approval which is slower. https://t.co/y2Az7okPdx
— Jacob Rees-Mogg (@Jacob_Rees_Mogg) December 2, 2020
Frédéric Moreau was incredulous: The Vote Leave government is claiming a German-developed, Belgian-made vaccine as a British triumph. There could be no better reminder of the importance to the EU of rules of origin.
The Vote Leave government is claiming a German-developed, Belgian-made vaccine as a British triumph. There could be no better reminder of the importance to the EU of rules of origin.
— Frédéric Moreau 🚎 (@goodclimate) December 2, 2020
And Mike Galsworthy pointed out that the vaccine was supported by a £100m loan from the European Investment Bank.
Also don’t forget that this vaccine, en route from Belgium to the UK right now, was supported by a £100m loan from the European Investment Bank.
It’s been an international effort. https://t.co/1vRo81HvtA
— Dr Mike Galsworthy (@mikegalsworthy) December 2, 2020
Belgium meanwhile will begin vaccinations from 5 January announced PM Alexander De Croo
Alexander De Croo: "La Belgique commencera la vaccination à partir du 5 janvier" #Corona #COVID19 #vaccine #Vaccin https://t.co/LXuUQHNtB4
— Wissam Bou Sleiman (@DocWissam) December 2, 2020
And on Monday the European signed its 5th vaccine contract, securing almost 2 billion doses of future #COVID19 vaccines.
Europeans will be able to get them, once they have proven to be safe & effective, said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
And 5 ✅!
Today we signed our 5th vaccine contract, with @CureVacRNA
Overall we have secured almost 2 billion doses of future #COVID19 vaccines.
Europeans will be able to get them, once they have proven to be safe & effective – hopefully before the end of the year! https://t.co/aNOEE2LVzS
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) November 30, 2020
Of course Berlaymonster wanted to know… are you allowed to have them *all*?
are… are you allowed to have *all* the available vaccines? pic.twitter.com/R4OMjO3E3q
— Berlaymonster (@Berlaymonster) December 2, 2020