European elections
June 9, 2009
(11 votes, average: 3.36 out of 5)
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On election night the EP building had been turned into a huge newsroom. Debates, interviews and journalists chasing the best spots and angles as the results started to come in. Hot and crowded - as the election campaign should have been. As predicted, general turnout figures fell. Not as much as expected but of course disappointing. It is clear that the election outcome reflects national agendas to a large extent. I would have preferred to see a more European perspective to the debates.
The dust has not yet quite settled but it is clear that the centre right are the main ‘winners’ and I say ‘well done’ to them. It has been reported as if extremist parties had made major gains. Let’s be clear: they did make progress in a few countries but in others they either played no role at all or lost out, so let’s not get carried away by easy headlines. The vast majority of those who voted cast their votes for centre, or close to centre, parties.
I will be interested to see the turnout figures for young voters and women and of course the number of women elected to the Parliament.
The elections show the need for a more active approach by national politicians to communicating Europe. It is the responsibility of all policy makers at EU, national and local level to explain the work of the European Union. We can not expect citizens to vote on European issues if they are only discussed for a few weeks every five years. This requires investment of political efforts to explain what is at stake in the European debate. We know from our experiences of consultations that when people are aware of what is at stake, they have strong views on the direction they want for Europe.
In these elections it seems that where there has been a strong focus on substance as well as a clear European perspective, that those parties have gained.
A hunt for someone to blame will also no doubt start and some will look to blame the Commission, which would be absurd. The main responsibility for persuading people to vote lies with the political parties. The Commission has displayed more modern thinking than many others in recent years by embracing Youtube, MTV, actively engaging womens organisations etc. It has engaged people in debate and discussion and has been responsible for Plan D and Debate Europe. It is for others to learn the lessons for the next few years. Political parties in Europe need to learn how to use modern methods of communication and campaigning and that European issues need to be a permanent part of the domestic debate.
Finally, another lesson for all institutions and political parties: Elections are about representation and if voters don’t see themselves reflected in who represents them, then they will be seen as distant. I’m interested to see how many seats have been won by candidates who are not middle class white males…
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June 9th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Allow me to disagree with you Margot.
“Extremist parties” made gains in Bulgaria, Romania (where they almost disappeared after the last national elections) Hungary (Where the anti-roma party Jobikk was supported by a police trade union), Slovakia, Finland, the UK (BNP discrimates memership by race) and Sweden. Thanks god we had Piratpartiet this year to hide the steady growth of Sverigedemokraterna. Who will play this role next time?
Do you think BNP would even be legal in Sweden or Germany? How comes such a party can be elected to a parliament that decides about my future?
Morevover - I can accept calling Sarkozy “right” and not “extreme right” . But other members of teh cetner right group are very far from anything center or liberal, e.g. Silvio Berlusconi, or the Bulgarian election winner Gerb.
“In these elections it seems that where there has been a strong focus on substance as well as a clear European perspective, that those parties have gained.” I don’t think any European perspective is typical for Sarkozy either, lately. I guess the UK independence party has a clear agenda and perspective, but I guess it’s not what you mean. Yet, they were number two in the UK after Euro-sceptical tories. The only UK political party with a “european perspective” is labout that lost with historic numbers.
The only politician from the center right I would say have a European perspective is actually Angel Merkl.
It is true that European questions were very, very absent… maybe they would be more interesting if we could vote also about mr. Barroso. I respect him for having a clear idea about what Europe should be. But it’s not my idea, and I want a chance to vote also about this.
If the future of Europe was actually up for an election, I am covinced taht voters would go through fire to find information, even if it’s not available on youtube. Youtube is good, of course, but it’s not the problem… I think many, many people feel that the vote is not about choosing a future, but about legitimizing the decisions that the Commission have already taken. Please prove me wrong.
I don’t blame the commission for not doing enough to make people vote. People shouldn’t vote, if they don’t have a clear opinion what they vote for.
Thanks for the blog
greetings
D
June 10th, 2009 at 12:50 am
The slight problem we have in Britain is the national politicians and national media continually downplay the importance of the EU in national policy decisions. For instance the government insist that only 9% of our laws emanate in the EU, hence to the British the EU is not an important issue because the people generally do not understand how our membership affects them directly. Those who do point out the effects of our membership do so usually from the EUsceptic standpoint
June 10th, 2009 at 3:00 am
What we clearly can see is that the Social Democractic movement is in a crisis. They were unable to communicate that they have a solution to the financial crisis and this solution will be found on the European level. The most important issue was not fully addressed: The financial crisis. The traditional voter segments of the social democrats fades away. The Center is represented by the conservatives and the right wing liberals with more credibility. Other policy issues, in particular the left is felt better represented by the Left parties, the Green parties or the Libdems. So what is the vision of social democrats? A social Europe? This wasn’t communicated. It is all just about candidates. The current vote reflects also the end of the New Labour movement which rescued the social democrats in the last decade by a shift to the center but made it loss credibility. Bayrou may be an exeption but even the French greens criticised his empty anti-Sarkozy program. Lifestyle oriented politicians as Sarkozy are very much hated by the political class but somehow reflect the populist parvenue scheme for the masses’ inner desires. In Italy we have Berlusconi with his absolutely cynical MEP candidate selections. Kudos to LaPais for publishing the party fotos which demonstrated the sexism of his reign.
Vote participation was terribly low despite all your efforts.
What I found shocking in Germany was that only the Greens made a European campaign. All election analysis regarded the vote as if it was a national election and a “German block” would be elected. Of course nationality of MEPs does not matter all that much, what matters is the parliament at large. A Dutch MEP represents me as a European citzen as much as my German MEP from the x party does. I also don’t understand why we have a 5% barrier in European elections in Germany. In Sweden e.g. the Pirate Party was a great success because they addressed specific European policy issues that went wrong and mobilized young voters. Germany has 99 MEPs and I think without a 5% barrier we would also have gotten a single PirateParty MP. Why not? Fringe parties are often very good for a parliament because the representatives are more engaged, think e.g. of MEPs as Marco Cappato from the Italian Radical liberal who wasn’t relected. The transparency he fought for caused some confusion with the top candidate of the libdems in Germany who was found not to be very present in Brussels (which is true).
It is a concern that parties as Libertas or the Dutch fascists are now represented, same for BNP, but that is democracy and we have to accept that. None of them have a joint European agenda. UKIP and Martin are known as noisy and non-constructive, but the grain of salt that move sometimes things forward. I would suggest you as a social democrat to convene with the leaders of the social democratic movement and see how to develop a joint vision. The PES platform currently looks the most mature and also the embracement of social networks went very well by some. However, I found is despicable how those social democratic MEPs which I know as best buddies of the corporate lobby fake the social activist in election mode. The Social Democrats have to find and communicate a new vision which addresses the need of the progressive voters. They have to come up with new ideas, new people and adddress problems of their voters which make their members passionate to support them. Spain is still in the old bipartisan world but how long would that last? Social democracy needs to get renewed or will fade away. It needs to present the solutions for the problems we face today. New Labour is a dead concept, we need a New Deal.
June 10th, 2009 at 9:03 am
Yes, but modern communication will not be enough.
For me it is surprising that only now several politicians find out what could be the way foreward: a directly elected Commission president or at least clear candidates for the post by political parties. And European list for European elections. It is as simple as that.
June 10th, 2009 at 11:04 am
If things carry on as they are doing then in a few years the turnout at EU elections will be zero.
When the unelected bosses of the EU repeatedly ignore the referendum decisions of millions of EU voters it is hardly surprising that the elections to the EU parliament are increasingly ignored. Most people see the EU parliament for the toothless and irrelevant body it is.
NO means NO.
Good to see the very low German turnout. If the Germans lose interest in the EU then the game really will be up. They bankroll it!
June 10th, 2009 at 11:30 am
“The elections show the need for a more active approach by national politicians to communicating Europe.”
And still, Margot does not understand. It is not about “communicating Europe”. It is about a 180 degrees change in course and turn the EU into a democratic construct.
Why should anybody in her or his right mind vote for a parliament without teeth and spine? They totally failed to prevent some of the commissions and councils more absurd ideas, and they are at their best only when they claim expenses.
I went and cast my vote for a party that was not yet strong enough to make its entry into the EU parliament in my country, so the people I did not and I can not support because of their failures will continue to fail in their job to do the best for the people.
June 10th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
I see that the EU has not condemed Peru and its slaughter of its indigenous citizens. The EU has been pushing Peru into signing free trade agreements. It is vey clear that the indigenouspopulation are dead against these trade agreement. Thousands of Awajun and Wambis Indians are living a frightened life away from their home escaping the brutal response from the army and police. Says alot about the EU and its social caring idea
June 10th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Congratulations to the UK Independence Party and The Conservative Party for getting the majority of the UK representatives.
June 10th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
It is quite strange to see a socialdemocrat Vicepresident, to a conservative President, backed by some socialist governments. If Europeans do not see differences between conservative, liberal and socialist policies in the European institutions, no wonder that they use other criteria to vote. I suggest you begin to do opposition, instead of doing the same type of politics than Mr. Barroso.
June 10th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
“I’m interested to see how many seats have been won by candidates who are not middle class white males… “… and English-speaking. It’s a bit weird that MEPs from the UKIP and BNP will profit of the Anglophilia of the Parliament they hate. But also in that regard do not expect a change of policy in a Parliament composed by members who owe their position to their knowledge of the language of the powerful.
June 10th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Dear Commissioner :
1) The EU is debating Financial Markets Regulations right now .
Early next week President Obama will lay out his plan for regulation of the USA Financial Markets, and after the debacle of 2008, where the EU and the USA alone lost a combined 10 trillion Euros in market value ( not to mention the losses for each individual worker ,retiree ,investor and taxpayer ) it would be very wise to make sure we do something smart, that secures taxpayers and investors but that helps and promotes investments also , that creates more growth, more new jobs and then more jobs.
One option on the table by Treasury Secretary Geithner will regulate derivatives in 2 forms: one for public deals in Regulated Markets like Stock Markets and another done between private partners in private, and those deals would be un-regulated,so imagine what many investors would do: use then un-regulated deals and in 3-5 years or sooner we could be again back in the 2008 Financial Meltdown, a re-run of the disaster !!! this is only good for the thieves that did the first 2008 Financial Meltdown, so could we get something smart so that we regulate while we create more jobs and more investment and more growth ?
2) the news that Porsche needs to sell a 20 to 25 % stake in the company ( that includes a 51% in VW) to a Qatar Investment Group, using EU gas consumer’s money , its an aberration , so when are going the EU consumers to realize that they must change to hybrid-electric-plug-in-E85 ? , to fuel-cells ? , to synthetic fuels ? , to solar and wind/wave and geothermal to generate their car power ? , to light rails and bicycles, when ?
Just in one side of the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic we have a 20 billion liter per minute current of water, Florida Atlantic University is into it, that’s a massive amount of electricity waiting….when ?
….or we will end up a colony of these Middle East Oil and Gas producers and their neocon Hedge Fund bankers? what is it going to take for the EU to see it ? a total collapse? to go bankrupt ? and how is it possible that national leaders are not talking about this all day long ? as a National Crisis? is the EU Culture going to end up washing dishes for these Oil and Neocon Lobby’s while the TV personalities talk about football , gossip and scandal ? are they that dumb?
June 10th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
“Do you think BNP would even be legal in Sweden or Germany? How comes such a party can be elected to a parliament that decides about my future?” [Daniel Nylin Nilsson]
Ha ha ha. Very good. You’re a gem. Nice one.
Now just extend that thought of yours a little and try to imagine someone, say in the UK ……..
Oh you get the idea.
The EU should have been strangled at birth. Neither it, nor any of its diseased organs, should decide anyone’s future. It has no mandate. I look forward to its death.
By the way, I voted for the “odious vile evil racist” BNP and I do not consent to any of you contintentals having any say in how I am governed.
Best wishes,
John Archer
EU Hater, AGW Heretic, BNP Voter
P.S. Margot, please tell that baldy Brasso dwarf boss of yours his wig looks severely neglected. If he doesn’t give it a saucer of milk quickly I’m going to report him to the WWF for cruelty.
June 11th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Dear Commissioner:
a) As reported earlier, the Washington Post yesterday , June 10,2009 :” Dollar Signs Point to Many a U.S. Embassy ” , confirmed that many of the USA Ambassador’s appointments to the EU are to people that has paid huge campaign donations to the Obama-Biden Campaign for President in 2008: to Britain goes Louis Susman as US Ambassador and that gave 735.000 dollars to the campaign, to France goes Charles Rivkin that gave 883.000 dollars to the campaign, to Spain goes Alan Solomont that gave 1.4 million dollars and to Germany Phil Murphy that gave 627.000 dollars, and none of them has any Foreign Affairs experience, but they do gave money and are powerful neocons, so there you go..and in the case of Murphy he is an ex-top executive of Goldman Sachs, the ones who pushed derivatives,swaps and futures, isn’t wonderful ?
So expect mischief, hanky-panky, shenanigans and “asset watching “, but since they work very together they will later blame P.Obama and VP .Biden and they will get away with everything ( Obama and Biden need help with this ) ….we thought that P.Obama knew what happened inside the Clinton White House in 1996 to 2000, and so he knew about all these neocons deregulating and all that,but he didn’t…he was busy in Chicago working for his district, and so now we got some of these “darlings” on the inside, a nightmare ! some even work for the Intelligence of a little country in the Middle East, so get ready for “fabricated conflicts” and “fabricated solutions” between the EU and the USA, between the EU, the USA and Russia, and vice-versa, between all …and all to get a cut,a fee, a bonus….you know , the usual.
b) the USA Senate Hearings last week and this were a fountain of news: we found out that Banks and Financial Institutions are using TARP Money ( Taxpayers Money ) to speculate with Oil and Gas, a Senator wanted to know but no one knew anything and the media silence ! , we also found out that the Oil Lobby is closing down rigs and platforms in the Gulf and elsewhere to cut supply and raise the price of crude, so many people are asking :
1) are also EU Bankers speculating with Oil and Gas to make quick money even when this would be a disaster for consumers in the EU, USA and everywhere? , are other Banks doing it ? ,
2) are EU Oil and Gas Companies also closing down platforms and rigs to cut down supply and raise the price of crude? many think that to do this in this economic crisis amounts to High Treason , but who will ask them ? they control most of the lobby’s in Washington D.C. and Brussels, right ? who will defend the consumers?
c) a Bi-Partisan Commission has found at least 13 billion of dollars missing from Military Contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan, others say is more like 50 billion, some of the 230.000 contractors of the Military are …not good…to put it mildly, can you see if you anything ?
http://www.wartimecontracting.gov/default.htm , this is just the tip of the iceberg, and what a coincidence some of these Ambassadors for “political campaign donation ” above know a lot about this, isn’t amazing ?
d) the media reports yesterday that the new appointed Chairman of General Motors, Whitacre, is a Director and Board member of ExxonMobil, so to put an oil executive in charge of G.M. could be a plan to wreck GM by next summer and crash the mid-term elections of 2010 ….an inside job to wreck the Obama -Biden Administration from within, a Rattner-Emanuel-Summers-Axelrod production from within…some of you know why.
It’s time to get out of ” oil and gas only ” and set the EU and the USA free from them, it’s time !
With all this corruption,high treason, incompetence , Europa and Euro haters and lack of vision on energy and jobs from most sides , your job got a lot more difficult, good luck !
June 12th, 2009 at 4:36 am
Margot, some news from the UK.
It seems that there is a virus going around. More and more of our government ministers are unelected. We have isolated it to Peter Mandelson who must have caught it when he was a commissioner for the quango eu and now it’s spreading over here. They are calling it an undemocratandemic, or pigs-in-a-trough fever
June 12th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
So - the pointless election of pointless MEPs to the EUs’ pointless toy Parliament has ended and very little has really changed because it still isn’t a Parliament (in the accepted sense of the word) because it doesn’t propose legislation. Only the unelected committee of dictators commonly known as the Commission can do that. So what are they for?
For MEPs hostile to the Evil Empire, it is a place where a certain amount of damaging research can be carried out, where some damaging ‘noises’ can be made, and where large amounts of taxpayers’ money can be diverted into adverse publicity and into the education of the public about the ways in which the EUropean project damages their countries and their own lives… All the evidence I see says that the more the people know about the EU the less they like it…
So I’m pleased to see that the significant majority of votes cast in the UK were for very or moderately anti-EU Parties. The UK Independence Party came second with 13 seats and British National Party won 2 seats. I wish it had been the other way round because it looks as if the BNP are far more capable of inflicting ‘damage’ on the EU than UKIP - who have failed dismally between 2004 and 2009.
On the plus side, UKIP have contrived to send Marta Andreasen to Brussels as an MEP. I wish her every success in using this platform to expose the failed accounting practices of the EU. I have little doubt that no stone will be left unturned by the anti-democrats to try and deny her the right to research and to speak…
But the highlight of this election for me is that the BNP’s first elected MEP - Andrew Brons in the Yorkshire and the Humber Region - took his place at the expense of Labour’s number two candidate - Richard Corbett. Now THAT is poetic justice!
To see Spinelli’s former assistant Richard Corbett (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Corbett) effectively replaced by an uncompromising British nationalist like Andrew Brons just made the whole charade worthwhile! The anti-democrats will also try to silence the two BNP MEPs but I doubt if they will succeed where Britain’s fascist left-wing thugs have so dismally failed…
June 12th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
In the UK, lets be clear, there are several things at play.
Political correctness, and a creeping sickness has stricken the process.
I personally have found nothing illegal, or out of line with the current BNP, however, some find their white only membership an issue. But their whole basis of work is based around the fact, and it is a fact of predjudice and political meddling, and discrimination that works against them, and the now Million voters that they represent. But at this time, its not like the political classes in the EU or UK are better. Automagic multiculturalism and political correctness gone beserk - what did people actually think? That it would be accetped by all without any response?
I said here in this blog on my occasional visits that this was coming, and things like uncontrolled immigration and heavy taxes and ignoring referendums, and EU meddling in nation states, and many other things were driving forces rolled into motion.
Chickens coming home to roost.
I_would not myself vote BNP, unless people continue to force people like myself away from the centre ground, and let me be very clear, that is exactly what is and has been happening. As far as the BNP go, they should be allowed to speak, and to make their case. So long as they do so without violence, without resporting to violence, then they must be allowed a part in the democratic process. This serves two demoratic purposes, it allows moderation on their part, because extremism does get punished widely when people see and hear a full exteme message, and also, and it also means others have to listen to the case made, and moderate their own views, or answer the complaints of the million voters. During the election, the voting was in fact skewed and twisted against the BNP. The basic raw fact was every possible thing was done, within the rules, and in areas of the unwritten rules to try to stop them. Lets be very clear, when they still poll a million, YOU, not they have gone very very wrong somewhere, and you needed this sever shock to make you wake up to the sh*t you are shovelling.
What is not acceptable, is for news outlets, and anyone else to support, or back a theory that the BNP and their million voters are to be somehow denied the right to speak, denied a freedom of expression, and denied the basic right to make a case within the democracy. The hard left were caught attacking, and using violence against the BNP. This is not acceptable. If the BNP step out of line, commit violence, or break the law, then they should be punished. If they are making a case or merely speaking, then like everyone else, they have a basic right to do so.
As for the millions and millions who have sent a message to Brussels, its clear that you have no support at all now for furthering your agenda in Great Britain, and your continued actions have basically driven millions to the more extreme views, rather than the centre ground. Your arrogance, your criminal behaviour, has led directly, and you were told it would happen to this point. You should be utterly ashamed, not of the BNP entering your parliament, but of the fact that you and your arrogance, and continued appalling behaviour, and complete lack of understanding about how people feel about the EU, has led directly to this, AND will lead to far more unless you start to moderate seriously your views, and especially, start to take on board the anger at the sever and complete breakdown of democracy in regard to the EU.
You cannot continue to drive through Lisbon and many of your other pet projects without, and especially against public opinion, otherwise you don’t piss off people, they actively begin to fight back, and yes, vote against you, vote against what you stand for, even if it means voting for others who have different values to what you hold dear.
You must make a much greater effort to engage with the public, but not merely engage, you have to accept that sometimes what you propose is not acceptable, and you have to retink or reduce your plans.
It shames me, and it left me greatly saddened, more than I can express here, that on the 6TH of June, we ended up putting 2 BNP people in there, but what is worse, is that you have created a criminal situation, where some of their case has value, holds water, and has won over a million voters, despite just about the kitchen sink and every possible thing throw against them. All driven by you, and your failed polices, values, and utter contempt for real democracy on the ground. You all deserve an absolute kicking for this. An absolute kicking.
What I am happy about is that UKIP reached second place, again, its driven by a public anger and resentment of your failure to absort and to listen. Now, the absolute majority of people from the UK actually represent the people’s view. A skeptic view. The question now is a simple one. Will you continue to drive through against growing, and more and more (and dangerous as that) fervent opposition, or will you stop and consider things carefully.
You are at a political crossroads, where you own extreme views have driven and begot an extreme response. Your arrogance, and totalitarian refusal to listen, or even accept things like referendums leaves you exposed for what you are. The part in this you fail to grasp, Is what you support, or suggest, to many is as alien to us as the BNP may be. Its no more welcome, and no less a dictatorship than the extremists. Its certinly not got people’s support, and its certainly not going to get it.
I trust that what we will see is reasoned arguments against them, but also, some acceptance of the complaints they make bring. If the theory is that these people can be blackballed and smeared and that is you plan, it will fail utterly. You will fuel the fires if your resort is that idiocy.
June 12th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
“Do you think BNP would even be legal in Sweden or Germany? How comes such a party can be elected to a parliament that decides about my future?”
Maybe you think the Commission, or secretive council of ministers is better. I am saddened the BNP went in on June the 6th of all days, but let me be very very clear to you. Shouting down the BNP might seems clever, but let us be very clear, in Britain, saddling the people with an unwanted constitution, avoiding a referendum, OR even ignoring referendums when they are held, better yet, totally ignore the results, lying perpetually, being decietful, and simply going forward like a dictatorship against people’s wishes. To many people, there is little difference between bad people, and in some cases bad people who listen are better than bad people who don’t.
As for the state of Britain and the EU, given the backgdrop of the people in power creating a new 1984, a corrupt civil class in power, and an economic crash and mass mal-administration, mass immigration and a patently unwelcome and severe failure to speak truthfully in regard to Islam and multiculturalism, the theory that you can label the BNP the bad guys, and everyone else the good guys, has gone out of the window.
The people responsible for this mess need a severe order of the boot. But then, I take it that you support the EU. As such, much of it can’t be removed by voting. Hard to call others names when all you support is an undemocratic, hated dictatorship, with no public support, and a growing resistance against it. At least the BNP were actually voted in, and can be removed, which unfortunatly for you, has more validation than much of the EU executive structure. Don’t blame the BNP for this. Don’t shoot the messenger.
In the meantime. The BNP now speak for a million people (and had not enormous efforts been made to screw with them and mess them up, it would have been far higher). You’ll have to take your medicine for quite some time.
June 15th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
MARGOT:
The elections show the need for a more active approach by national politicians to communicating Europe. It is the responsibility of all policy makers at EU, national and local level to explain the work of the European Union. We can not expect citizens to vote on European issues if they are only discussed for a few weeks every five years. This requires investment of political efforts to explain what is at stake in the European debate. We know from our experiences of consultations that when people are aware of what is at stake, they have strong views on the direction they want for Europe.
(…)
A hunt for someone to blame will also no doubt start and some will look to blame the Commission, which would be absurd. The main responsibility for persuading people to vote lies with the political parties. The Commission has displayed more modern thinking than many others in recent years by embracing Youtube, MTV, actively engaging womens organisations etc. It has engaged people in debate and discussion and has been responsible for Plan D and Debate Europe. It is for others to learn the lessons for the next few years. Political parties in Europe need to learn how to use modern methods of communication and campaigning and that European issues need to be a permanent part of the domestic debate.
RISPONDO / MI RESPONDAS:
(IT) Finché non verrà affrontato il problema della comunicazione egualitaria (mettendo tutte le lingue dell’Unione sullo stesso piano, e adottando - quando necessario - una lingua ausiliaria non-etnica), le Sue nobili parole non produranno nessun effetto…
(EO) Ĝis kiam ne estos alfrontita la problemo de egaleca komunikado (per la samniveligo de ĉiuj Uniaj lingvoj, kaj per - kiam necese - la alpreno de helplingvo neetna), Viaj noblaj vortoj restos senefikaj…
AL TOÑO MI PETAS / CHIEDO A TOÑO:
(EO) Kia estas, nune, la politika etoso en Hispanio? Kiel fartas la maldekstrularo kaj la socialista partio? Kiel estas nune perceptata la Eŭropa Unio?
(IT) Qual’è attualmente il clima politico in Spagna? Come sta la sinistra e il partito socialista? Come viene percepita attualmente l’Unione Europea?
June 15th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
BRUSSELSBLOGGER:
Yes, but modern communication will not be enough.
For me it is surprising that only now several politicians find out what could be the way foreward: a directly elected Commission president or at least clear candidates for the post by political parties. And European list for European elections. It is as simple as that.
RISPONDO / MI RESPONDAS:
(IT) Sono d’accordo: liste europee per le elezioni europee. E’ l’unico modo di sconfiggere gli egosimi e le contrapposizioni nazionali, per il bene di tutti i cittadini europei.
L’Europa deve diventare ciò che aveva sognato Altiero Spinelli…
(EO) Mi konsentas: eŭropaj listoj por eŭropaj voĉdonadoj. Tio estas la sola maniero por venki la egoismojn kaj la interkontraŭstaroj naciaj, por la bono de ĉiuj eŭropaj civitanoj.
Eŭropo devas iĝi ĉio, kion revis Altiero Spinelli…
June 15th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
The reality is that the election of extremists like the BNP and Jobbik to the European Parliament - along with creeping fascism that they bring - should be a wake-up call across Europe, in Brussels and in national capitals. We should hope that the large majority in the EP work to exclude racist-fascist MEPs, most especially Nick Griffin, form doing any damage or abusing their offices and any perks to launch racist-fascist agendas. We need to see condemnation not just from European leaders – but from those international actors that have partnerships with the EU.
The governments and the European Parliament have an obligation to deal with the damage. First, groups like the Hope not hate Campaign (http://www.hopenothate.org.uk) should have their rightful place at the table with the European Parliament. There needs to be action taken to insure that all citizens in districts with extremist MEP have their right to be heard. We should also note that the British Government has notified other governments that there is to be no extensive contact with MEPs from extremist parties.
Lastly, the appearance of extremist parties on the ballot should not have happened in the first place. For all appearances - any groups of lunatics, such as the BNP, can get a party on the ballot and, in the anger and chaos of an economic downturn, vote for extremists. Ballot nomination./ ballot access laws to exclude fascist parties like the BNP and Jobbik should be excluded from the ballot in the first place.
The idea is that freedom, equality, human rights, and democracy itself - need to be placed ABOVE and BEYOND the reach of the ballot box. Freedom, equality, human rights and democracy itself should not be at the mercy of “angry voters” at the ballot box. If we place such high value on freedom, human rights, equality, human rights and democracy - they should not be allowed to be voted away by “angry voters.”
Now - if you argue that excluding essentially anti-democratic parties like the BNP and Jobbik from the ballot is “undemocratic” then your argument means that Iran, which held elections this past week too, would also be a democracy. Democracy is NOT just election, but vastly more, such as equality, human rights and liberty for all. The idea of democracy is that all persons, regardless of skin colour, religion, and ethnicity should have equal access to representatives to parliaments, such as the European Parliament. It can be argued that citizens that live in the districts with racist-fascist MEP now do not have representation in the European Parliament.
The Canadians are considering proportional representation in Canada, but the results of the European elections have Canadians rethinking this:
QUOTE: “Here’s something to consider the next time someone tries to convince you it’s vital that Canada revitalize the electoral system by abandoning first-past-the-post in favour of proportional representation. PR doesn’t just work to the benefit of small, friendly parties with happy platforms that never hurt anyone. Any party that can muster a moderate-sized block of votes gets a seat. And anger attracts a lot of votes. Consider the recent elections for the European Parliament. Only 43% of eligible voters bothered to turn out, undermining the argument that PR fosters voter interest, and allowing parties with only mediocre support to pick up a seat or two.
That included the British National Party, which won two seats. The BNP is a whites-only, anti-immigration party that British Conservative leader David Cameron denounced as ‘Nazi thugs’” (“Adopt proportional representation. Support intolerance.” Kelly McParland. National Post, June 10, 2009.)
With that there are legal and political remedies that concerned people and groups can do who live in the districts with racist-fascist MEPs. First, discrimination based on race, religion and the like violate especially EU laws, as well as the laws and constitutions of the Member States. Second, monitor which groups and persons among the constitutes that extremist MEPs visit and give their time too. I’d try to invite a Nick Griffin to a forum on combating racism or a Jobbik candidate to an EU-Roma summit. MEPs have in the past bee declared unfit to hold office – and the inability to serve all constituency in a district, in violation of national and EU laws is probably on of them. The British Government is looking to make the BNPs exclusive, race-based constitution illegal. That’s a good start, but all legal and political remedies must be sought and tried!
June 15th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
The socialist parties were punished because they all support mass immigration. And we the peoples want an immediate end to mass immigration.
@eslaporte
How do you propose to place such things as democracy ‘Above and beyond the reach of the ballot’ box when democracy is already beyond the reach of the ballot box.
The EU has been built in such a way that parliamentary democracy has effectively ceased to exist already. Where there is a national veto, the national parliament makes the legislation, this is democratic. Where there is no right to veto, the European Politburo (Commission) initiates legislation. The EU process of making legislation is completely undemocratic.
And I’m not even pointing to the fact that there is no EU-demos, thus making EU-democracy impossible by definition. The European ‘Parliament’ (which isn’t a parliament at all, except for the name) is not democratic because it doesn’t represent a demos.
@Margot:
you don’t want to have it explained to the peoples how the EU really works, because that would involve telling the peoples that parliamentary democracy has been de facto abolished.
But you don’t mind that, do you? The EU is not, never has been and was never intended by the politicians to be democratic, and as I explained simply cannot be democratic for lack of an EU-demos. Why do you work for the EU and why do you further the destruction of democracy?
June 15th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Andrea:
[ES] El resultado de las elecciones en España fue bastante estable. Ganó el Partido Popular (derecha), pero por poca distancia frente al Partido Socialista, que resistió bastante bien a pesar de la crisis. El resto de partidos quedó a mucha distancia: el sistema español es el más bipartidista de todos. Izquierda Unida (comunistas y alternativos) conservó dos escaños, lo cual paró la reciente bajada, pero tampoco consiguió recuperar posiciones. La campaña se centró en cuestiones nacionales, sin debate de alto nivel
[EO] La rezulto de la balotoj en Hispanio estis sufiĉe stabila. Venkis la dekstro (Popola Partio), sed kun malmulta diferenco fronte al la Socialista Partio, kiu rezistis sufiĉe bone malgraŭ la krizo. la ceteraj partioj restis je granda distanco: la hispania sistemo estas la plej dupartieca el ĉiuj eŭropaj landoj. Unuiĝinta Maldekstro (komunistoj kaj alternativuloj) konservis du seĝojn, per kio ili haltis la ĵusan malpliigon, sed apenaŭ rekaptis malnovajn voĉdonantojn. La kampanjo centriĝis en naciaj aferoj, sen altnivela debato.
Koran saluton!
June 15th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Elsaporte,
So, let me get this right. People you don’t like, who think differently, who don’t share your views, who oppose leftist ideals like mass immigration, and enforced propaganda, multiculturalism, and policies like positive discrimination, should be silenenced. They should not be allowed to speak, they should be made illegal, they should be barred from standing in what you laughingly call ‘democratic’ elections.
The muslim council of Great Britian is probably a muslim only council. Will idiots like you demand that they too open their membership? I do not condone or accept violence from people like the BNP. If they break the laws of the land, and by that, I mean the natural laws of the land, not laws made up by dictotorical non democrats like you - laws only made to eliminate, remove, sideline, and eliminate ‘opponents’.
Freedom (for the people who vote, and in some cases think or agree with some or all of the BNPs policies.) - is a right.
Equality. While English people have every single right to defend their way of life, culture, - everyone else does it.
Human rights. These are applicable to white people. Contrary to your new world order lunacy I know, but applicable all the same.
Democracy - something clearly you lack any understanding of at all.
In the meantime, in the UK, what we see on TV screens is not the BNP in uniform marching round, but rather idiots standing up in a democratic way, and trying to speak. Violence, intimidation, and the rest is the weapon on those who don’t agree with the BNP. Their problem frankly is they are - possibly like you, too stupid to actually make a case.
The BNP got two people elected.
The BNP did so with every_single_other party trying everything in the book, and well beyond trying to stop them, and the BNP polled nearly a million votes.
The policies of the EU are globally hated and detested. That is the PRIMARY cause of all of this. The absolute driver. Before any of you cast your net at the BNP and dare mention’ democracy’, take a look back at the referendums on the EU, the one’s you’ve lost, cheated, riddled with corruption. Why the hell would anyone vote for any of you?
Besides this, the current ’state’ - with all the supposed oversight from the EU, in the UK has built a state on overbearing massive taxation, enormous immigration at a could not give a shit speed and with zero due process, and has implemented 1984, which it generally does not bother to use against terrorists, but rather the nominal population.
Tell me, dear reader, what exactly is the problem with the BNP, if you have voted for the previous governments who have used 1984 like a bloody manual - yet you claim some pompous claim that the BNP is evil. The BNP did not reconstitute 1984 dictatorship, and global monitoring, YOU did.
The BNP is a symtom, not the disease. The sooner some of you realise that its a correction on your part, and your cause that is required, the sooner you’ll defeat them. But you have no right or privilage to demand their removal when the status quo is this appallingly bad. To take that course of action is more debilitating and damaging to democracy than anything they could ever dream up.
June 15th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
“Centrist Conservative Says:
June 10th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Congratulations to the UK Independence Party and The Conservative Party for getting the majority of the UK representatives.”
And now we have a truly representative presentation in this parliament - in line with the population’s views, what now?
Oh, yes, that is right. Nothing. If I cut off my own toes, it would have about as much effect on the EU. The EU by design was not ever to have control by the people. You could vote down everything with every member (from those elected UKIP/CON), and everything the federalists want to pass, will pass. The EU parliament is akin to the dog being thrown a bone.
But, yes, proper presentation of Britains skeptic nature has been required for a very long time. Its not enough on its own, but it is a start. The next step would be for these two to realise they are natural allies, and stop bickering.
June 16th, 2009 at 11:59 am
<a href=”http://www.kurso.com.br/”><b>[EO]</b></a> Kara Tono, estas iom malĝojige ekscii ke, ankaŭ en Hispanio - lando por kies registaro mi simpatias - la kampanjo ne fokusiĝis sur Eŭropaj temoj. Tamen vi havas Zapateron, dume ni havas Berluskonon: mi petu la politikan refuĝitecon!
P.S. ĉi tie la kampanjo estis vere absurda!
<b>[IT]</b> Caro Tono, mi rattrista un po’ il sapere che anche in Spagna - paese per il cui governo io simpatizzo - la campagna non si sia focalizzata su temi europei. Tuttavia voi avete Zapatero, mentre noi abbiamo Berlusconi: devo chiedere lo stato di rifugiato politico!
P.S. qui la campagna è stata davvero assurda!
June 16th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
It is clear that the peoples of 27 previously free and democratic countries don’t vote because they understand all to well that the elected eu parliament has no powers to do anything useful. All it can do is rubber stamp the idiotic lowest common denominator one size fits all, fits no none, legislation which spews out of the unelected democratically deficient eu commission.
June 17th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
To Barry Davies. I agree that the eu quango appears to be a talking shop and little more than a giant NGO. However it costs a fortune as well as being undemocratic. Although it may appear irrellevant right now, its proposals, in the face of popular dissent, are quite scary. If it ever gets command of its own armed forces then things could get very worrying as it will effectively be a junta. We must be on our guard.
June 19th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
A fantastic day for solid conservative values and approaches. In Sweden a big victory also for integrity, privacy and liberty with the Pirate Party. Young men turned out in droves and defeated socialists, communists and feminist bigots across the board. It was amazing to see how the desperate feminists in Sweden, including Miss Wallström, despite women already having more than half of Swedens minister and EMP seats still went out and demanded Swedish people vote only for women. They were all soundly defeated and soon Barasso will get his well deserved reappointment. Swedish femi-apartheid politicians went down in droves. It was a great day.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Dear Commissioner,
It would be refreshing if the Commission — as guardian of the treaties — took its responsibility seriously and reminded governments of their own responsibility to have a EUROPEAN election and not 27 national elections. For those who wish to know the background there are three articles about this on http://democracy.blogactiv.eu/2009/05/22/elections-1-how-governments-cheat-the-voters-distort-democracy-and-fix-the-european-elections/ and http://democracy.blogactive.eu
This requirement has been in the treaties since the original treaty of Paris 1951 and Rome 1957. It is really high time that democractic countries observed their democratic obligations. If the Commission remains dumb, who will speak out? With all the money and effort spent on the so-called democracy debate, where has this question been raised?
Best regards,
David H Price
http://www.schuman.info
Schuman Project
July 1st, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Every time your union has an election….turnout decreases…what does that teel you.
I voted in my Countries Local Elections only.
it will be a cold day in hell before i ever vote in your euro election.
August 17th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Beppe Grillo’s Blog is an open space for you to use so that we can come face to face directly. As your comment is published immediately, there’s no time for filters to check it out. Thus the Blog’s usefulness depends on your cooperation and it makes you the only ones responsible for the content and the resulting outcomes.
September 18th, 2009 at 8:57 am
This wasn’t communicated. It is all just about candidates. The current vote reflects also the end of the New Labour movement which rescued the social democrats in the last decade by a shift to the center but made it loss credibility. Bayrou may be an exeption but even the French greens criticised his empty anti-Sarkozy program. Lifestyle oriented politicians as Sarkozy are very much hated by the political class but somehow reflect the populist parvenue scheme for the masses’ inner Darkfall gold. In Italy we have Berlusconi with his absolutely cynical MEP candidate selections. Kudos to LaPais for publishing the party fotos which demonstrated the sexism of his reign.
November 21st, 2009 at 4:57 am
Bayou may be an exception but even the French greens criticized his empty antic’s program. Lifestyle oriented politicians as Sarky are very much hated by the political class but somehow reflect the populist par venue scheme for the masses’ inner desires.
December 23rd, 2009 at 8:18 am
Hey.. What was that about snouts and troughs? Those Greens sure are quick learners in the ways of the masters.