So, today I was reading an interview with Hans-Gert Pöttering, the prez of the European Parliament (EP), at the Spanish newspaper El Mundo. In it, he complains about the low turnout of the European Elections and the rise of the “radical” political parties.
While I was reading, I kept thinking the same thing. Does this guy live so far removed from reality, or is he simply a two-faced cynical hypocrite who’s laughing at us while he shoots his canned “woe is me” responses?
Let’s see, the European Elections have less participation every time around. Gee, would it have something to do, perhaps, with the fact that more and more these elections seem to be completely fucking pointless? Mr. Pöttering (somehow the fact that it looks so similar to “potter” makes me chuckle, and no, I’m not talking about the wizard) goes to talk about how Europeans should not thing about the EP as something far removed from their lives, or how the media is to blame too because they don’t cover things at the European level instead of just local things. He then sleazes out when asked if the politicians of the EP may have part of the blame; colour me surprised.
For a while now, the Europeans have stopped doing things with the (“the”, not “their”) Parliament. Rather, the Parliament has been doing things TO the Europeans. The current European Union has been built by the politicians, that is, Mr. Pöttinger and his cronies, for themselves and their friends/partners/accomplices (hint: it ain’t for the average “European”).
Why the hell would anyone bother voting? The last time anything important was put through a popular vote, the badly named “European Constitution” (the piece of trash that sullies the word “Constitution” with its mere existence, and yes, I’ve read it, it ain’t a freaking Constitution, not even close to one), it was merely passed by as a pantomime, and if there was a possible problem getting it through in some country, then no problem! Have it be “voted” by the country’s politicians instead, and off you go. Well done chaps! Pats on the back for everyone!
The Referendum in Spain was just fucking pathetic. It was sold (because the politicians acted like used cars salesmen, embarassingly so) as a vote to “stay in Europe” pretty much. There was a HUGE vacuum when it came to actually discussing or informing about the contents of the document or what exactly was the objective they were trying to achieve with this, a disgusting exercise in demagogy that left quite a sour taste in my mouth, and of those who bothered to try and inform themselves; for crying out loud, the campaigners offered to send information about the contents of the “constitution” and it wasn’t sent until after the day of the election! Hows that for popular vote, huh? A shame the Internet usage keeps lagging behind in Spain, at least one could get the full text from the EP website.
On a related note: Ireland, you’re our only hope! It’s freaking hilarious that, since it doesn’t seem to get through Ireland, they’ve resorted to subtle and less-than-subtle threats of what could happen if they keep refusing to accept it.
And then he is asked if having the Parliament have a clearer relationship with the Comission would help, and what does he say? Oh, but the relationship is very strong, see, the Council already “takes into account” the opinion of the Parliament, or be “influenced” by it (which is what he claims about the election of the President of the Comission, I bet you a cookie it’s gonna be Barroso no matter what). How wonderful! I always wanted democracy to work by having the politicians “being influenced” by the votes instead of actually having to abide by them. Glee!
Quite frankly, Mr. Pöttinger, the low (and dropping) participation is either a symptom of the kind of Europe that has been built at the expense of the Europeans (in which case, if you’re actually worried, you may want to take a look at all that has been done from your ranks to purposedly remove European politics as far away from the Europeans as possible), or more likely, the exact result of what your kind has been working on for years. Congratulations! You guys have won, “Europe” is yours! Just have the decency of sparing us your hypocrisy and fake concern. Thank you.