Strasbourg, France - An application for recognition from the European Parliament of the euro-sceptic Libertas movement appeared stillborn Tuesday after one of its key backers said he had never joined the party. Founded by Irish millionaire Declan Ganley, Libertas played a key role in successfully rallying opposition to the European Union's reforming Lisbon Treaty at a referendum held in Ireland last year.
In a statement published late Monday, it said it had met the necessary conditions to join the European Parliament and run in this spring's elections after enrolling MEPs from seven different EU member states.
But one of its members, Igor Grazin of Estonia, said Tuesday that he knew nothing about his Libertas membership.
Instead, Grazin said in a statement that he would continue to represent the Estonian "National Reform Party" in the European Parliament.
Any pan-European group wishing to join the parliament, which convenes in either Strasbourg or Brussels, must enroll lawmakers representing at least a quarter of the bloc's 27 member states.
Failure to reach this condition would also deprive Libertas of 200,000 euros in EU taxpayers' money, which it could use to fund its political campaign ahead of the June elections.
However, Ganley has already said that it would not necessarily be relying on such funding.
"Not before we have the voters mandate to spend taxpayers' money," Ganley said.
Libertas said in its statement Monday that it had received the endorsement of a total of 8 euro-sceptic MEPs, two of which are French.
Others include a British lord and a Polish radical known for his anti-homosexual stance. Libertas officials were not immediately available for comment.
