Members of the People’s Party, Socialists, Liberal Democrats, Environmentalist, members of the oderate Right and MEPs from different parties said they are in favour of approving the report and therefore of the Lisbon Treaty. "Strange enough explained Corbett, one of the authors of the report, from the floor the extreme right, the extreme left and the British Tories (belonging to the people’s Party) are taking sides against the Treaty". "They, who do not believe in a EU, ask for a European referendum on the Treaty. This is the greatest hypocrisy ever". Then, the floor began to cast their votes and approved the text "by a vast majority" (525 for, 115 against, 29 abstentions), as highlighted by the president, Hans-Gert Poettering. Who added, speaking to the MEPs: "Your vote is the free expression of the peoples who elected you. This Treaty enables the Union to work and guarantees more democracy". There were some protests from the floor, with some MEPs asking for a public confirmatory referendum. "We defend the common values of Europe added Poettering and will not allow the cries of the few to overcome the arguments of the majority and the democratic debate. Those who voted against the Treaty will have to justify themselves with their electors".
