Ireland Ignored?
The character and integrity of the Irish and European politicians will be on display next week as they meet in Brussels to explore the ramifications of Ireland’s rejection of the referendum. The Treaty of Lisbon had to be approved by every member country to come into force on January, 1st, 2009. At least that is what we were told initially, it now seems there may be yet another democratic deficit within the Uber Union.
As previously agreed, by all nations concerned, the rule was set that if one country rejected the Treaty that it was dead. Will the politicians of Europe stand by this decision or will the rule be changed? Will the Irish election results be ignored? It seems so as the remaining eight countries are being encouraged to continue the ratification process. In the coming weeks and months Ireland’s "NO" vote will do more than just send a message to Brussels, it will shine a democratic light on the institution itself in a way that a "YES" vote could never have done.
Our own fledgling leader, Brian Cowen, who asked us to rubber-stamp this referendum without bothering to read it himself, will be facing his European counterparts next week with a democratic dilemma. Will he respect the people of his nation and declare to the Union that the Treaty of Lisbon is a non-runner? Or will he conspire with them to circumvent due process? Barroso, Merkel, and Sarkozy are in denial. Sarkozy, who will ascend to the EU Presidency on July 1st, is going full steam ahead with his plans for a European navy! Do you think they are going to let a simple thing like the Irish democratic process get in their way?
Tell ‘em Brian!
Do you see no problem in the voters of Ireland overriding the will of 27 governments and nearly as many national parliaments (when all the ratifications are tallied)?
If that is the case, your reasoning has an even larger legitimacy deficit than I thought.
Parliamentary ratification is the norm. Representative democracy is the norm.
If you voted ‘no’ you had no power of attorney from me.
Comment by Ralf Grahn — June 15, 2008 @ 8:51 am
The rules were written by the EU Parliamentarians Ralf, not me. The problem I see is in the short sighted EU policy makers who allow such loopholes to exist in nearly all their legislation, present Treaty included.
Fortunately for us we don’t need a power of attorney to vote, not yet anyway; but, maybe that will be the next proposal!
Comment by Cao — June 15, 2008 @ 9:14 am
Do you see no problem in the voters of Ireland overriding the will of 27 governments and nearly as many national parliaments (when all the ratifications are tallied)?
Do you, Ralf, see no problem in the fact that the populations of two other countries (France and the Netherlands) also voted NO to the EU Constitution (later renamed the Lisbon Treaty) — and that majorities in other nations, like the UK, would prefer to have a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty but have been denied that opportunity because their so-called “representatives” don’t want to know what their response would be?
Representative democracy only works if the representatives actually REPRESENT the wills of their peoples.
Comment by Hibernia Girl — June 15, 2008 @ 3:32 pm
Hibernia Girl, you took the words out of my mouth! We may never know what the true ‘will of the people’ is since so many have been denied the right to vote!
Ireland, we salute you for your gutsy defiance to the E.U. giant! You rock!
Comment by Aurora — June 16, 2008 @ 10:26 am
Thanks for the comments HG and Aurora!
Comment by Cao — June 16, 2008 @ 11:12 am
You’re welcome. Thanks for keeping us informed on what’s going on over there.
Comment by Aurora — June 17, 2008 @ 9:49 pm