Farage, Barroso lock horns over Wikileaks, EU referendum

During question time in the European Parliament, UKIP leader and MEP Nigel Farage locks horns with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso over Wikileaks, the democratic legitimacy of the European commission and UKIP's desire for a UK referendum on the European Union.
Since the end of 2010, the European parliament schedules a monthly 'catch-the-eye' debate with the president of the European Commission.

[@maxdecphoenix]

"I do have legitimacy sir! I was elected by this parliament! In secret! And not only that, I was the only candidate on the ballot! How is this not democratic?!"

[@jamielynn5397]

You gotta love Nigel Farage

[@felixuu]

yup. Great comedy for us Europeans

[@Matt-rq3bu]

@@felixuuAnd for us Brits! We loved watching him expose and shame the heart of corruption from within the EU.

[@vinceonline09]

The more secret the vote, the greater the legitimacy. Wonderful!

[@ochuspokus]

Sometimes I'm not sure whether to like or dislike videos like this. On one hand you have Farage giving his best and exposing this crook, Barroso, who on the otherhand, must be delusional to think that a secret internal selection is democratic.

[@UFOZ01]

Nigel smashed it...Keep it up!

[@laustudie]

Oh my those people are so corrupt its not even funny

[@Eple]

What an excellent choice of attire

[@bleupeony2]

LOL I love the way they are all smiling, grinning, even smirking! All this talk of secrets only afirms my belief that WikiLeaks has come none too soon!

[@calipsogal]

Nigel always talks sense.. shame no one else seems to see get it!

[@raven2000ka2]

He says: "I was elected by SECRET vote." Says it all really lol

[@benmols]

If that was a UKIP member shouting out and interrupting they would have been kicked out and fined.

[@SerphWoW]

I secretly voted for myself a couple of seconds ago. I now have legitimacy to hold supreme executive power!

[@fuxu123]

lol the pink shirt and polka dot pink tie is so badass, boss and ace

[@MrKnockna]

Barroso wouldnt recognise democracy if it came up and pucked in his face

[@WebOnion]

I wholeheartedly support this idea. An offical not elected by the people themselves should have no real power in any matter concerning the lives of 500 million people.

[@nicolaenonea8062]

THANKS GOD WE LEFT THE EU!!!!! THANKS FOR NIGEL!!!!! GOD BLESS YOU NIGEL FARAGE!!!!

[@omgdollyparton]

Actually the British are credited with being the pioneers of modern-democracy.

[@marksavage1108]

The Mother Of All Parliaments. Started in 1215 at Runnymede.

[@AM-es5up]

It’s not a democratic process in the EU….

[@pobinr]

A referendum would be to give the people of the UK the opportunity to vote on whether we stay or leave the EU. We haven't had a say for 37 years. The EU has gone way beyond what people were told it would be, namely just a common market.

[@tdkage]

Been in China for years. Finally I get to understand more and more the politics here. Barroso would make a good politicians in the CPC Secret vote... what a joke.

[@MsDingding11]

I love Mr Farage

[@PompaTG]

@Seventh7Art Secret ballot votes are fine for citizens, but when an elected official cast his vote it should be out in the open, so that his constituency can see that he is following the wishes of the people who put him in his seat. To have secret ballots in parliament is disgraceful; if you are to represent a group of people, you should be held accountable for your performance!

[@aldosam5317]

Look at Schulz. There's nothing you can tell about him that isn't an insult.

[@willo996]

Thats what I was thinking..I thought everything was meant to be transparent..

[@Retrogamer71]

God love Nigel!

[@MadocNco]

These are politicians though who undertsand politics far more coherently than most ordinary people. Despite this I think I'm going to vote UKIP XD

[@pobinr]

We've had no say on Europe for 37 years since the last referendum. Barroso is not there as a result of any kind of democracy.

[@WilliArka]

colleagues please, colleagues...colleagues....

[@WebOnion]

a referendum is just the only way to know the will of the people. Even if politicians think it is wrong, if if the people's choice makes no sense whatsoever, if a majority of the people support the idea, it should be respected. This is democracy.

[@93thelema777]

I will vote for UKIP if they promise not to make a coalition . You should also be able to vote against partys!

[@PiretBCN]

This is my "favourite" Farage outfit. It's so...ehrm...colourful.

[@FightingForce1]

By a secret vote! LMFAO! "We are so democratic"!!! What a load of crap...

[@SteveFusionX]

1:05 "I was elected by THIS parliament by secret vote" - so NOT democratically elected by the people then? Elected in secret? What is this? A freemason club?? lol

[@teepriest]

When all is said and done, twist, wriggle and make excuses,BUT, three words sum up the EU, IT'S NOT WORKING.

[@ROMAPOWER911]

Barroso = hardcore communist.

[@harryfrost2733]

in what way?

[@harryfrost2733]

***** At least socialism gives you the crutch, capitalism will leave you starving to death on the streets of the richest cities in the world.

[@harryfrost2733]

***** kind of, but the fall of communism wasn't because it wasn't viable. The case of USSR was due to it trying to compete with American military for the best part of 40 years, it bankrupt the nation. Capitalism is only (kinda) working for a small percentage of the global population because america have basically engaged in illegal activities to make sure that foreign governments such as Latin American or African ones are totally fine with their country being torn from side to side because US companies want their resources. Capitalism has been ugly and has relied on entrapping nations into the depths of poverty in order to maintain our way of life in the west. I don't deny the fact that communism and socialism has been proven to be no different (in the limited range of real examples we have), but most of the communist leaders are tyrannical. The idea of equality literally cannot be entertained under this monetary system, all money is debt, so someone has to be in debt. Also what you said about capitalism being the only way to prosperity is so wrong.. It was the way to prosperity for some, but basically all the neo-liberalist capitalism ideas have been disproved, Friedman was a fool. Now we see the constant rise of inequality and the squeeze on everyone from the working classes to the middle classes. This system will only end one way, badly.

[@harryfrost2733]

***** lol. You are full of shit. Capitalism has just been better at controlling the people and countrys that matter to their way of thinking, because it involves money and greed. Capitalism has caused more unjust wars than communism ever did. If you actually use your brain and forget about capitalism vs communism. You can see that all across the world there is a worldwide want to be able to live a happy and peaceful life with your family. That is the universal innate fact of DNA that makes us all fairly equal. Sure some people may be more ruthless about getting what they want and others just give up. The idea that people could not ever be equal with one another is ridiculous, its already been disproved with tribes all over the world being respectful of one another for the role they play in society. Capitalism and more importantly MONEY promotes competition, which creates a seperation between people, it puts you in a position where it is you or the other, and you always choose yourself thats just nature. If there was no need to compete for living and over time we were able to channel peoples thinking to the idea that we must sustain our planet together, instead of 'you must be successful and aspire to be better than you ever could be' then things could change, its not impossible... It sounds eutopic but I'm pretty sure if half the planet was miraculously flooded, the other half would be able to create a more sustainable and equal life for all out of fear more than anything. The technologys there, the ideas are already there, its just we are educated and brought up in environments that condition you to think that this is life.. Do you think if Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, George Bush and Bill Clinton all started talking about the need for our capitalist system to have drastic changes, that people would not start to buy into these ideas? People only believe what they feel and know to be true, and these ideas are heavily influenced by society as much as by parents.

[@berto1999]

***** Yesterday the old systems have taken everything from everyone. Or nearly everything from nearly everyone. Today and tomorrow, we must create a system which gives EVERYTHING to EVERYONE. No human being should be isolated, alienated, marginalized. Communism, Capitalism, Nazism, have in common the first industrial revolution. But today we are the third or fourth industrial revolution. The world becomes automated and robotic. The work is disappearing, the growth of unemployment is exponential. What we can do is: less hours of work for everyone = work for everyone, distribute resources and capital. And above all: We can eliminate POVERTY AND HUNGER. Unemployment is not an accident, but is the GOAL of development.

[@Kresnov]

Schultz really is a knob of biblical proportions.

[@hiphopdood]

I like how he says "I didn't expect you to find any common line with Russians" Nothing line pitting two countries against each other in your "democratic" Parliament.

[@theknightswhosay]

It's not representative democracy if you don't know what "representatives" voted for.

[@benmols]

Hear hear Nigel.

[@cobone02]

I agree my friend.I agree.

[@wblake1]

Well EU is far from democratic, it is an attempt at a truly thorough political union or whatever, but what bothers me is that national govts, such as UK's is avoiding the referendum. Thats what should bother people (especially in UK), not so much an appointed bureaucrat such as Baroso.

[@Illidanek]

One does not negate the other.

[@uptonmanor]

"I was elected by a secret vote" LOL

[@edwardharris5301]

at least he admits he was voted in behind closed opaque doors

[@joeziahbabb]

Well, I think the UK and Europe in general has managed to drive the entrepreneurial spirit off their entire continent, and my general observation is that Europe and the EU nations are figuring out what happens when you have a nation ran on welfare and all the people who they were taxing to fund it fled their countries. Hence the whole thing melting down... For what its worth, thanks for propping the dollar up for a few more years.

[@T-Hazza]

I cant even keep count of how many times barroso says "democracy" says it so many times so fast!

[@larswilhelmson7779]

right!!!! these little creps turns up now and again they live and prosper on our swett and blood!

[@ementormike]

If one is not to trust in democracy; then what is one to trust in...monarchy, dictatorship...what do you suggest as a better alternative of government to democracy. I think that Farage wanting democracy; where each countries citizens have a vote through a referendum is the best option that exists...at least then the people being affected by what is done decide what is to be done by a majority; that is the most fair system; that I know of; that exists for government.

[@ETmediaProductions]

My left ear had a great time listening to this.

[@darinattard3244]

Mr Barosso is representing the European people, and therefore logically he should have been elected by the people.

[@garyholt4445]

Mr Boroso says he was elected by this Parliament. That’s fine but when you only have one candidate to choose from I would say it was nota fair election.

[@lordoffrog2354]

Biting his nails ??!!! Loooool

[@Hashishin13]

@Leifthrasir "It's not the people who vote that count. It's the people who count the votes."

[@automaterialism]

my left ear enjoyed this video

[@doliwsef]

The Portugese call him: Burroso - donkey!

[@MsHumble4]

Don't get me into trouble, I have never said such ! Thank you.

[@sommoesupremo]

ahahah... these are the guys who are screwing it all up...

[@pashnrolando9493]

THIS MAN IS RIGHT ON

[@vinceyo1989]

@ccd101 When talking about the heads of state, I wasn't refering to the rotating presidency. You're right, that's just an irrelevant bit of protocol. I was talking about the EU Council with all the heads of state. All the elected EU leaders are represented there and, of course, bigger countries have more influence. As for the parliament, it doesn't just "nod through". If a law does not please the majority, it votes against it. Same thing for the new commision.

[@FifteenQs]

Yeah. I think he was the only candidate.

[@Kenny1dayatime]

will give it a good go my man :)

[@cakesofdeath]

By Secret vote is this guy for real.

[@al4484]

It looks like a very much fun.

[@PiretBCN]

Indeed! That was very nice. When/If Nigel becomes prime minister of the UK, there will be a referendum about pink shirts and then all Englishmen can only wear pink. He might lose the next elections after that. Then again Englishmen love pink shirts. I have never understood why.

[@Kresnov]

I for one can't wait for the day they catch Shhultz and Barosso in a cupboard interfering with each other, Just hope it gets on KZbin:).

[@blueguitarblue]

Poor Nigel...having to navigate himself through these liars and vipers. If I was there, I'd take my pitchfork after those who sneer at him and constantly poke fun of his fight for democracy.

[@TusksRUs]

I suppose that makes sense, I wonder what I was confused about now ;) cheers

[@brendanmccallion2350]

Why is he dressed like 2 face from Batman. 😂😂😂

[@Graham6762]

Why can't they stand up there and say this is what I believe in and this is how I voted? The EU parliament can't even introduce legislation, how does that constitute a parliament? It is offensive to the word parliament. Czar nicholas' parliament had more power, the EU parliament is a debate chamber.

[@petetaichi414]

we are all screwed..

@Seventh7Art of course that if I am not representing anyone I vote secretly. This is not the case. MEPs or any other voted representative at all shall not vote secretly because there is no way to check how they are representing citizens who voted for them. If I want someone to represent me then I need to know what he does so I can revoke him or not vote him next ballots! Don't represent people if you are scared of people seeing what you're voting for in their name!

[@krummstadt]

best wishes too ''friend'' :)

[@DefectivePoliceFarce]

27 democracies? I don't see any democracies.

[@LuigiSozzi]

I'm Italian and I'm here writing for all the british viewers: GET OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION !! You guys don't need to stay in Europe, it's truely pointless for you, you still have the commonwealth, make the relationship inside the commonwealth stronger and get out!! This would be worthy twice. In first place because you will gain your independence back and in second place cause you would give a great example to the rest of the EU members.

[@afanasievnikitin]

he has a good costumer)

[@watchulla]

democracy and secret vote should not go in the same sentence. They are the total opposite. Dose he know this!!! Or has the definitions changed and i was not informed.!!!

[@maxpegasus1]

@terrygand I never said that Norway voted yes, I just said which countries had a vote....

[@thecatrooms]

by a secret vote , priceless

[@kevinfarrell523]

I have no idea what Mr Farage is about!

[@benniebonbon]

that suit...

[@nevillespence3700]

Ha ha ha..by secret vote....get rid of this nonsense...God Bless you Nigel

[@XeariDFN]

My right ear feels lonely

[@numb15]

There should be a ban on people dressing up like Nigel Farage, what a horrible stripe and dots combination,

[@TheHeinz64]

Think Schulz was thinking back on the good old Party-Days of the NSDAP, when he was shouting like I`ve seen many SA-members do, where his Grand-Dad must have had a major role.

[@maxpegasus1]

@youknowimright1 He's the president of the Commission, the word President might be misleading. He could as well be called Chairman or something. And he is elected by people who we elect, so it's not like we have no say. An btw being the President of the Commission is not being the head of state.

[@spurgunisti8294]

How is it an argument that European parliamentarians should have the right to vote in secrecy because normal citizens have that right too? Huge difference in the power of influence between a parliamentarian and a normal citizen. Of course there is pressure to vote openly and that's the whole point! We should be able to review that those who are voted in are voting according to the desire of those who voted in them.

[@TheAumadera]

i'm portuguese, barroso in portugal defended the same a tirany in the early 70's

[@johnsmith2679]

I have no problem with UKIP. More political parties involved in Britain can only be a good thing, and UKIP represents many Britons who have, until now, been largely ignored by the other political parties. With that being said, Farrage was wrong here. By the look on his face in the second half, I think he knew it. If a secret vote by elected representatives to appoint a leader is undemocratic, there isn't a state in Europe which can claim to be a democracy.

[@Monkeyshouts]

@DOHC2L I don't see the link with P.R. because the symptoms you just gave also concern Parliaments with members elected in single-winner constituencies, which usually end up with 2 parties and independants. I defend the actual P.R. for the European Union because we actually don't have a EU-wide democracy, Latvians and French and Maltese don't talk to each other or campaign together, so the best to me is to send each national political spectrum, in all its shades, to Strasbourg and Brussels.

[@cyclist3969]

Nigel reveals Emperor Baroso is not wearing any clothes

[@jesusisking3974]

EU...Evil United....open purse with no uaccountability at the expense of citizens.

[@kentstrandberg3447]

Secret votes? Then how the h.ll do i know who to vote for?I need to know that my representative votes the way he said when i voted for him.

[@pirate259]

That's a fair comment,however,if the populace do disagree with the views or points of this "farcical state" who or where do we go to state our objections? To the streets like many have tried?

[@andrewmoran357]

Mr Shultz must be being paid handsomely on a back hander - Nigel kicks their butts every time - we need Mr Farage he has the guts to lead the country for the better. The EU stinks

[@dan11009]

I can firmly state that I am not a supporter of Farage's shirt and tie....

[@LeamingtonSteve]

Go Nigel!

[@circuseurope3159]

Somebody should be teached a lesson for poking a sleeping giant, a sleeping russian bear and a sleeping dragon.

[@soupwaiter]

it's a translation thing, "secret" means "anonymous". No politician will stand up and say "we had a secret vote and decided". He meant to say "anonymous", the main reason you don't get that is because you don't speak any other language.

[@fartunique]

Vote UKIP!

[@pirate259]

I love the way this guy uses the English language to wrap these idiots up like a kipper!