EP is a fundamentally a weaker body than its name suggests. The European Council can keep proposing pretty much the same law over and over again until they get a pliant EP that will accept it.
Once accepted, it's almost impossible to repeal the law by the EP because they will need the approval of the EC and Council of the EU, both of which have members that are not directly elected by the people. EC and Council of the EU is also that body which so far has proven to be far more authoritarian in it's approach.
But it does have the right to reject any such law before it's accepted.
Which is the relevant part here, not muddying the water by bloviating about something else, right? Having a body that can only vote on/debate on proposals is absolutely not rare across western democracies.
To be fair, most executive bodies of most countries are not directly elected. You don't vote for your Finance Minister or your Secretary of State in any country I know of. It's true that the EP has uniquely little power compared to the legislative bodies of most democratic states though.
... but the executive bodies of most countries aren't the only ones who can propose legislation. If the EP can't act sui iuris, either to change legislation or remove Commission members, that's a really qualitative disability.
Once accepted, it's almost impossible to repeal the law by the EP because they will need the approval of the EC and Council of the EU, both of which have members that are not directly elected by the people. EC and Council of the EU is also that body which so far has proven to be far more authoritarian in it's approach.
So, the parent is largely correct.