GolfGate: Phil Hogan, EU Trade Commissioner, apologizes

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2 min

The European Trade Commissioner, the Irish Phil Hogan, has been under pressure since this weekend for his involvement in the GolfGate: a large social gathering in disagreement with the health restrictions. For the Irish government, the week ahead promises to be just as hellish as the one that has just ended.

Publicity

With our correspondent in Dublin,Emeline Wine

In a lengthy statement, Phil Hogan offered a " full and sincere  " apology  for attending a parliamentary golf society dinner on Wednesday. Dinner which brought together 80 political figures, much more than the health limit for 6 guests.

This Sunday, the commissioner admitted a second sprain, he made a stop in the reconfined county of Kildare on his way to dinner.

Despite these excuses, Prime Minister Micheal Martin demands an explanation. Ditto for the President of the European Commission. Ursula von der Leyen is the only one who can force Phil Hogan to resign, which he refuses for the moment.

Faced with the growing disgust of the Irish towards their representatives in what is now nicknamed the GolfGate , a minister and a dozen hierarchs of the two ruling parties have already left their functions.

At the call of the opposition and to prove his attachment to the management of the health crisis, Micheal Martin intends to ask the President of the National Assembly on Monday to bring forward the start of the parliamentary term by one week.

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• Ireland
• Coronavirus

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