Tusk: Boris Johnson crossed the line
The European Council President Donald Tusk today accused former mayor of London, conservative Boris Johnson, that "crossed the line" by comparing the European Union plan to that of Adolf Hitler.
"When I hear that the EU compared to the plans and programs of Adolf Hitler, I can not stay silent," said Tusk at a press conference in Copenhagen.
"We must ignore arguments so foolish as not to become one of the politicians of the ruling party with the greatest influence. Boris Johnson has exceeded the limits of a reasonable discussion, showing political amnesia, "said the Polish president of the European Council.
Johnson, leader of Brexit supporters ahead of the referendum to be held on 23 June in the UK, made the controversial statement in an interview Sunday (yesterday) in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper.
"Napoleon, Hitler, many people have tried to do [to unite the continent under one government], and it ended so tragically. The European Union is another test by different methods, "he said.
Tusk, asserting that he does not want to intervene in the public debate in Britain, he said that this is an historic reversal.
"We can bear witness to many in the EU, but still remains the most effective rampart against the always dangerous and often tragic conflicts between the European nations," he said.
It is not the first time that a statement of Boris Johnson is causing controversy and popularity rather has benefited from this. Last month blamed racism for the president of the United States Barack Obama assigning an anti-British trend is related to the "partly Kenyan 'origin.
The European Council President Donald Tusk today accused former mayor of London, conservative Boris Johnson, that "crossed the line" by comparing the European Union plan to that of Adolf Hitler.
"When I hear that the EU compared to the plans and programs of Adolf Hitler, I can not stay silent," said Tusk at a press conference in Copenhagen.
"We must ignore arguments so foolish as not to become one of the politicians of the ruling party with the greatest influence. Boris Johnson has exceeded the limits of a reasonable discussion, showing political amnesia, "said the Polish president of the European Council.
Johnson, leader of Brexit supporters ahead of the referendum to be held on 23 June in the UK, made the controversial statement in an interview Sunday (yesterday) in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper.
"Napoleon, Hitler, many people have tried to do [to unite the continent under one government], and it ended so tragically. The European Union is another test by different methods, "he said.
Tusk, asserting that he does not want to intervene in the public debate in Britain, he said that this is an historic reversal.
"We can bear witness to many in the EU, but still remains the most effective rampart against the always dangerous and often tragic conflicts between the European nations," he said.
It is not the first time that a statement of Boris Johnson is causing controversy and popularity rather has benefited from this. Last month blamed racism for the president of the United States Barack Obama assigning an anti-British trend is related to the "partly Kenyan 'origin.