Claim 4bee2fe0Checked 09 Jul 2026
TrueOn the truth scale
“They stand to attention when the anthem is played.”
Reasoning & Evidence09 Jul 2026
The claim is basically accurate. The European Parliament’s rules adopted in 2008 say the anthem is performed at the opening of constitutive sittings and other solemn sittings, and official reporting of such a sitting shows the chamber being asked to stand and the rest of the chamber standing while the anthem played. The wording “to attention” is a bit embellished, and this applies to those formal sittings rather than every parliamentary meeting, but the core claim is correct. Sources: European Parliament Legislative Observatory (EP Rules of Procedure, Rule 202a / symbols of the Union) https://oeil.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/en/document-summary?id=1026775 ; Euronews, “Brexit Party MEPs turn their backs as EU anthem is played” https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2019/07/02/brexit-party-meps-turn-their-backs-as-eu-anthem-is-played
From article
Extreme Euronationalists. You want to see them standing to attention when they play the anthem. You want to watch when they goosestep the EU flag around the parade ground at the front of the European Parliament. You have to be there to understand what’s actually going on. They’re so extreme, they will wilfully destroy democracy – which they’re doing. They are pursuing policies in southern Europe which I think, unless these countries break out of this prison of the euro, will lead to revolution. I mean, there may be some very unpleasant times to come.
Sources opened+ 124 search hits considered
| [1] | europarl.europa.eu |
| [2] | europarl.europa.eu |
| [3] | eur-lex.europa.eu |
| [4] | oeil.europarl.europa.eu |
| [5] | europarl.europa.eu |
| [6] | euronews.com |
| [7] | euronews.com |
| [8] | eur-lex.europa.eu |