Fury at far-right Union guest
In a controversial move, the Oxford Union has invited a leading member of the French far-right to speak in one of its Michaelmas term debates.
Olivier Martinelli is a member of the extremist Front National party in France, serving on the FN's Central Committee. He also acted as an election adviser to the notorious Jean-Marie Le Pen during his presidential campaign.
Martinelli will be lining up alongside right-wingers Bill Cash MP and the Rt. Hon Lord Tebbit on 31st October to propose the motion that 'further integration will fuel Europe's Rising Right'.
While the debate has been approved by Lord Jenkins, the Chancellor of the University, whose bust is being unveiled beforehand by Lord Heseltine, the Union term-card does not mention Martinelli's membership of the Front National. He is described merely as a "commentator on French politics and election adviser to Jean-Marie Le Pen".
Le Pen, with whom Martinelli has close contact, has been convicted on numerous occasions for the 'provocation of racial discrimination' and also for 'justifying war crimes'. He has been fined for anti-semitic remarks and remarks implying Holocaust denial. Mirroring the violence that has been associated with the National Front, Le Pen was disqualified from public office for two years after assaulting a Socialist candidate in 1997.
The UK Anti-Nazi League has reacted strongly to the line-up for the debate and plans to run a national press release on the matter. A spokesperson for the League contacted the Oxford Student and stated: "It is outrageous that the Oxford Union is legitimising the Front National by treating it as if it were a respectable democratic party. By inviting a member, the Union is basically collaborating with the Front and portraying them as a party that you can do business with."
Ben Kenward of the University's Socialist Worker Student Society also expressed his concern. "It is disgraceful that the Union is giving someone like that from the far-right a platform from which to speak."
Coincidentally, Peter Hain MP, Minister for Europe and one of the founders of the Anti-Nazi League, will also be speaking at the debate. Hain is known for his vocal stand against the Apartheid regime in South Africa from which his family had to flee.
The Union was hit by controversy last year over the invitation of right-wing historian and infamous Holocaust-denier David Irving. On that occasion Union President Amy Harland decided to cancel the scheduled debate on the grounds of public safety.
Union President Dave Watson told the OxStu that he does not anticipate any difficulty in holding the debate in third week.
17th Oct 2002