MEP Manon Aubry on EU Accountability, Vaccine Texts, and Palestinian Rights

Political Landscape in Poland and Hungary

• 🇵🇱 Manon Aubry highlights the election of an ultra-conservative president in Poland, seen as a sign of an international reactionary movement, and expresses solidarity with feminist activists fighting for reproductive freedoms.
• 💊 She plans to distribute abortion pills in Poland and attend Budapest Pride, emphasizing the need to defend LGBTI rights against systematic attacks.
• 🇪🇺 Aubry advocates for abortion rights to be included in the EU Charter for Fundamental Rights and for a ban on conversion therapies, noting the success of a citizen initiative with 1.2 million signatures.

Criticism of EU Commission's Deregulation Agenda

• 📉 Aubry criticizes the European Commission's "simplification" agenda as Trump-style deregulation, specifically targeting the potential abolition of the "Duty of Care" directive.
• ⚖️ She argues that the directive, negotiated over five years, holds multinational corporations accountable for labor and environmental abuses, and its removal is problematic as companies are preparing to implement it.
• 🚫 The directive aims to ensure companies prevent human rights violations by their subcontractors and are held responsible if violations occur.

Calls for Transparency and Accountability

• ✉️ Aubry labels the European Commission President's handling of Pfizer vaccine contract negotiations and the refusal to publish text messages as a scandal and a lack of transparency.
• 🏛️ She calls for Ursula von der Leyen to be held accountable and resign, emphasizing the need for an independent ethics body and the removal of money from EU institutions.
• 🤝 Aubry expresses concern over a new alliance of the right and far-right in the European Parliament, noting that even socialists have voted to water down legislation, which she sees as a critical moment for the progressive left.

Stance on Gaza and Palestinian Statehood

• 🇵🇸 Aubry criticizes President Macron's hesitation to recognize a Palestinian state, questioning when the "right moment" will be given the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
• 💔 She condemns the delivery of weapons to Israel, calling it complicity in a potential genocide, and advocates for suspending the EU-Israel association agreement and imposing an arms embargo.
• 🌍 Aubry stresses that the fight for Gaza is a fight for humanity and calls for support for Palestinians.