Comments on: EU Elections 2009, and a Sign of Democracy’s Fragility http://cominganarchy.com/2009/06/09/eu-elections-2009-and-a-sign-of-democracys-fragility/ Speak Victorian, Think Pagan Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:11:24 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Sejo http://cominganarchy.com/2009/06/09/eu-elections-2009-and-a-sign-of-democracys-fragility/comment-page-1/#comment-389600 Sejo Fri, 12 Jun 2009 22:15:00 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/?p=6004#comment-389600 Arcane, I have to disagree. The EPP has been in history the true engine of European integration, granted, but today it is not. It is barely pro-ECB. Not even after these elections: they are in almost every country under the menace of Euroskeptical parties. Which is legitimate, of course, but a blind way to look at future. Furthermore, the Italian EPP MEPs are absolutely anti-EU. Do I have to remind that the worst European presidency has been the one of my otherwise beloved Sarkozy? Do I have to remind that he has relaunched the idea of the Europe of national governments opposed to the increase of powers of the Parliament and a direct election of the European commission by the Parliament itself, as proposed by the liberals I voted? Or that he has humiliated an already weak Barroso on issues like Iran? If you're talking about Adenauer, ok. But Merkel? She's a protectionist. Europe as a common political process is being dissolved by the national fforts to protect national industries, without any common project for the European economy. I'm afraid, I stick with my point of view. Arcane, I have to disagree. The EPP has been in history the true engine of European integration, granted, but today it is not. It is barely pro-ECB. Not even after these elections: they are in almost every country under the menace of Euroskeptical parties. Which is legitimate, of course, but a blind way to look at future. Furthermore, the Italian EPP MEPs are absolutely anti-EU.
Do I have to remind that the worst European presidency has been the one of my otherwise beloved Sarkozy? Do I have to remind that he has relaunched the idea of the Europe of national governments opposed to the increase of powers of the Parliament and a direct election of the European commission by the Parliament itself, as proposed by the liberals I voted? Or that he has humiliated an already weak Barroso on issues like Iran?
If you’re talking about Adenauer, ok. But Merkel? She’s a protectionist. Europe as a common political process is being dissolved by the national fforts to protect national industries, without any common project for the European economy.
I’m afraid, I stick with my point of view.

]]> By: kurt9 http://cominganarchy.com/2009/06/09/eu-elections-2009-and-a-sign-of-democracys-fragility/comment-page-1/#comment-389598 kurt9 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:56:43 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/?p=6004#comment-389598 My understanding is that these so-called "right" parties are not "right" at all, but are national socialist. The BNP in the UK is an example. If you check out their website, they are clearly socialist on economic policy. There is no such thing as "right" in Europe. My understanding is that these so-called “right” parties are not “right” at all, but are national socialist. The BNP in the UK is an example. If you check out their website, they are clearly socialist on economic policy. There is no such thing as “right” in Europe.

]]> By: TDL http://cominganarchy.com/2009/06/09/eu-elections-2009-and-a-sign-of-democracys-fragility/comment-page-1/#comment-389585 TDL Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:54:32 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/?p=6004#comment-389585 This election was about the increasing unresponsiveness of the EU political elite. Many of the Euroskepetics have no problem with the economic integration, but object to the political integration (especially the de facto constitution that is the Lisbon Treaty.) As Brussels has increased it's power of even the most minute & local regulations, people are beginning to chafe under their political control. Daniel Hannan (MEP South East England) made the claim that Brussels now promulgates 83% of all the laws in England, with little to no input from the English I might add (Hannan is an Euroskeptic.) This is seen throughout Europe and this, along with immigration, is a driving factor for the results of the past weekend. Also, I'm glad no one made the claim that the odious BNP is far right, they are indeed a racist Labour party (in fact far to the left of Labour.) The BNP was picking off votes from Labour deep in Labour enclaves. Regards, TDL This election was about the increasing unresponsiveness of the EU political elite. Many of the Euroskepetics have no problem with the economic integration, but object to the political integration (especially the de facto constitution that is the Lisbon Treaty.) As Brussels has increased it’s power of even the most minute & local regulations, people are beginning to chafe under their political control. Daniel Hannan (MEP South East England) made the claim that Brussels now promulgates 83% of all the laws in England, with little to no input from the English I might add (Hannan is an Euroskeptic.) This is seen throughout Europe and this, along with immigration, is a driving factor for the results of the past weekend. Also, I’m glad no one made the claim that the odious BNP is far right, they are indeed a racist Labour party (in fact far to the left of Labour.) The BNP was picking off votes from Labour deep in Labour enclaves.

Regards,
TDL

]]> By: Kirk Sowell http://cominganarchy.com/2009/06/09/eu-elections-2009-and-a-sign-of-democracys-fragility/comment-page-1/#comment-389579 Kirk Sowell Thu, 11 Jun 2009 02:39:41 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/?p=6004#comment-389579 First watch this (the best part is the last 30 seconds): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1E3OFbCpqE Agreed with Arcane that the right/left dichotomy doesn't tell you much about most European parties' positions on the EU. The centre-right parties in France and Germany are Europhile, in Britain they are Euroskeptic. Yet even taking that into account, the Euroskeptic seat total did increase, especially in Britain. Too bad a couple of them are BNP. First watch this (the best part is the last 30 seconds):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1E3OFbCpqE

Agreed with Arcane that the right/left dichotomy doesn’t tell you much about most European parties’ positions on the EU. The centre-right parties in France and Germany are Europhile, in Britain they are Euroskeptic. Yet even taking that into account, the Euroskeptic seat total did increase, especially in Britain. Too bad a couple of them are BNP.

]]> By: Lexington Green http://cominganarchy.com/2009/06/09/eu-elections-2009-and-a-sign-of-democracys-fragility/comment-page-1/#comment-389573 Lexington Green Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:34:01 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/?p=6004#comment-389573 Where the mainstream parties refuse to pay attention to voters' legitimate concerns, they open the door for parties like the BNP. It is up to the mainstream parties to address those concerns, or more of this will happen. Don't blame the voters. They have responded to the choices put before them. Further, the EU "Parliament" is substantively powerless. These elections are a way for voters to send a signal, and they know that. Where the mainstream parties refuse to pay attention to voters’ legitimate concerns, they open the door for parties like the BNP. It is up to the mainstream parties to address those concerns, or more of this will happen. Don’t blame the voters. They have responded to the choices put before them. Further, the EU “Parliament” is substantively powerless. These elections are a way for voters to send a signal, and they know that.

]]> By: Arcane http://cominganarchy.com/2009/06/09/eu-elections-2009-and-a-sign-of-democracys-fragility/comment-page-1/#comment-389570 Arcane Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:05:03 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/?p=6004#comment-389570 Sejo, That is ridiculous. The largest conservative bloc in the EU, the EPP, is strongly integrationist and pro-EU. They are some of the most die-hard supporters of the Union. Additionally, the Liberal bloc is as pro-integration as the EPP and Socialists. Just because Europe has moved to the right a little bit doesn't mean that it has become less integrationist. Sejo,
That is ridiculous. The largest conservative bloc in the EU, the EPP, is strongly integrationist and pro-EU. They are some of the most die-hard supporters of the Union. Additionally, the Liberal bloc is as pro-integration as the EPP and Socialists.

Just because Europe has moved to the right a little bit doesn’t mean that it has become less integrationist.

]]> By: Sejo http://cominganarchy.com/2009/06/09/eu-elections-2009-and-a-sign-of-democracys-fragility/comment-page-1/#comment-389565 Sejo Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:40:02 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/?p=6004#comment-389565 With those elections' results, I fear just one thing: that no federation progress between the EU countries will be made in any foreseeable future. No common foreign policy, no common army. No «Europe of the peoples» but a weak, fragmented Europe of often rival and decaying Nation-states. What I fear, to cut it short, is that in the era of the decline of the Usa as superpower, Europe will not qualify herself as a growing power as China, India, Brazil, Russia. With those elections’ results, I fear just one thing: that no federation progress between the EU countries will be made in any foreseeable future. No common foreign policy, no common army. No «Europe of the peoples» but a weak, fragmented Europe of often rival and decaying Nation-states.
What I fear, to cut it short, is that in the era of the decline of the Usa as superpower, Europe will not qualify herself as a growing power as China, India, Brazil, Russia.

]]> By: Rommel http://cominganarchy.com/2009/06/09/eu-elections-2009-and-a-sign-of-democracys-fragility/comment-page-1/#comment-389564 Rommel Wed, 10 Jun 2009 05:06:37 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/?p=6004#comment-389564 I see the gains by the BNP as a good thing, in that the party will never take power but forces the more mainstream/moderate parties to adopt platforms that will address those legitimate grievances that drive many to vote for them... I see the gains by the BNP as a good thing, in that the party will never take power but forces the more mainstream/moderate parties to adopt platforms that will address those legitimate grievances that drive many to vote for them…

]]> By: Thomas http://cominganarchy.com/2009/06/09/eu-elections-2009-and-a-sign-of-democracys-fragility/comment-page-1/#comment-389560 Thomas Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:58:10 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/?p=6004#comment-389560 I'm hugely disappointed that the UK, my own countrymen, basically elected a white supremacist. I’m hugely disappointed that the UK, my own countrymen, basically elected a white supremacist.

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