It is becoming clear that democracy in Europe has died, probably some time ago, but we are now seeing the most brazen example of it to date.
It was widely expected that following the ‘No’ vote in the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, that barred the Irish government from ratifying said treaty on constitutional grounds, that this much discussed and abhorred treaty would have gone the same way as it’s Constitutional fore-runner … into the ground.
Ireland has been the only country in the EU to offer it’s citizens a referendum on this highly controversial matter, indeed the UK government conducted a u-turn on the issue claiming that the Lisbon treaty is substantially enough different from it’s predecessor to not require a referendum. The fact that the Lisbon Treaty has been widely acknowledged as being around 95% the same as the rejected EU Constitution seems not to be of any great concern to our Europhile leaders.
Three years ago the French (and the Dutch) rejected the EU Constitution only to now have their government state that:
… the No vote in the [Irish] referendum is a serious blow but have urged the EU to press ahead with the project.
Meanwhile in the UK, where we have never had a referendum the BBC reports that:
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the UK would press on with its ratification ….
A stance which has since been confirmed.
My first reaction to the news of the Irish result was (apart from woo-hoo), “well now we can expect a piece-meal implementation over the next few years as much of it will slide under the ‘radar’ of the media at large”. Continuing the full-scale pursuit of ratification is and will lead to a political and media storm which may well be the final blow for Herr Brown and his increasingly fascist government, it should be an affront to every member of any democratic country not to have provided with a referendum on the continued expansion of the EU’s authority.
I have previously stated that continued integration of Europe has more to do with empowering politicians and sidelining citizens than any grand notions of ‘peace’ and ‘free trade’ which may have formed part of some vague initial plan. The increasing reality is the federalisation of Europe in direct opposition to the current will of the populous.
Related Link:
EU Grapples with Irish ‘No’ Vote - BBC News
UK to Press Ahead with EU Treaty - BBC News
States Urged to Proceed with Ratification - The Irish Times
