**The Eurosceptic MEP Nigel Farage is expected to be disciplined by the president of the European Parliament over a tirade he delivered last week.**In the parliament Mr Farage lambasted the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, saying he had “the charisma of a damp rag”.
The possible sanctions range from a reprimand to a suspension, a parliament spokesperson told BBC News.
Parliament head Jerzy Buzek could also withdraw the MEP’s daily allowances.
“It’s not a hearing,” the spokesperson said. “Mr Buzek simply invited Mr Farage to see him about his statements and formulations during the plenary.”
The meeting is scheduled for 1300 GMT.
‘Bank clerk’
Mr Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) group in the parliament, drew jeers last Wednesday when he turned on Mr Van Rompuy, saying he had the appearance of a “low-grade bank clerk”.
The attack came as Mr Van Rompuy, a former Belgian prime minister, made his maiden appearance in parliament in Brussels. His job was created by the EU’s controversial Lisbon Treaty - a treaty condemned by Eurosceptics.
Mr Farage’s party, UKIP, campaigns for a withdrawal of Britain from the European Union. It has 13 representatives in the parliament.
Mr Farage opened his attack against Mr Van Rompuy by saying “I don’t want to be rude” - before launching into a personal attack lasting several minutes.
“Who are you I’d never heard of you, nobody in Europe had ever heard of you,” Mr Farage said.
“You seem to have a loathing for the very concept of the existence of nation states,” he continued, adding: “Perhaps that’s because you come from Belgium, which is pretty much a non-country.”
Mr Van Rompuy, 62, was chosen unanimously by the governments of the EU’s 27 member states to take on the role of the first permanent European Council president.
Mr Van Rompuy said he held Mr Farage’s comments “in contempt”, without elaborating.