Disaffection Dominates European Voting

[panthera]

That's definitely an understatement. In my neighborhood, everybody marched on down after breakfast. No standing in lines, I swear there were more election officials there than voters.

Walked in, held my nose, put my fingers in my ears, closed my eyes and cast my vote for the least arrogant, least distasteful, least slimy jerks who still stand strong for human rights, refolded the two meter long form, dropped it in the box and walked out.

Didn't see one person look happy or satisfied going in or out.

How was it elsewhere in Europe - especially Italy and the UK where the governments are having a bit of a hard time of it?

 

[askomiele]

Besides voting for Europe

we had to vote for our part governement (Flanders)... Here in Belgium it is forbidden to make propaganda the day of the elections when choosing for any governement (except the community). But here in Belgium, they just propagade for the elections of Flanders; some politicians didn't want to vote for Europe because of some electionlaw that not has been changed, so actually our elections don't count... (in theory)
The elections showed the politicians that they have to follow the voting and not the pre-election contracts... (what happend few years back).

 

[panthera]

Yeah,

They're supposed to be quiet here on election day, too, but I got a really cheery greeting from the Christian Socialist Union just outside of the keep-out area around the school where I vote.

Told them, as a gay man I'd rather eat broken glass shards than give the enablers of the Nazi party in Bavaria my vote. And shouldn't they be out covering up the "priests who got their housekeepers pregnant" scandal we've got brewing here.

They weren't amused.

Democracy is the worst form of government...until you look at the alternatives.

Sigh.

 

[dj-gabriele]

In Italy:

less people went to ballots, that's a shame, voting should be compulsory in my opinion!
We had an affluence rate of around 67%, 7% less than the last time, quite a drop! The most shameful regions were the southern ones, with the exception of Apulia that had a share of almost 75%.
Sadly my party doesn't exist anymore, so I voted (not happly at all) where most of the people from them went. I'm happy that we (in Europe) had a right drift as it was called.

 

[mielabor]

In the Netherlands only 36.5% of the electorate did actually cast their vote. Europe is not very popular here. Research before the elections did show that a large number of viewers/listeners immediately switched to another channel when a Europe related subject was broadcasted. The anti Europe and extreme right party lead by Mr. Geert Wilders has now become the second largest in the country and when the popularity growth rate continues it will be the largest party after the next national elections. I think that the present politicians should not ignore these signs and change the way in which the European Union is evolving otherwise we can expect severe problems. For one: the role of the European Parliament and European Commission should be reduced.

 

[panthera]

Well,

actually, it wouldn't hurt if the damned European Government were governed by a binding constitution.
Right now, they seem to be fairly human rights oriented and, if we forgive the occasional bent-banana, reasonably practical.
But they are dictators without any control. And that is unacceptable.

 

[twinniefan]

European Parliament

Panthera,
A question if I might, does the European Parliament have over-riding constitutional powers of the governments/parliaments of the respective European nations, or is it really just a sort of advisory role?.
You also mention compulsory voting,we have compulsory voting here in Australia,although strictly speaking you dont actually have to vote,just attend a polling station and have your name crossed of a voter roll,failure to do so may result in one being fined by the electoral commission,this also applies to state elections as well.
In my view though I would prefer voluntary voting here because the trouble here is you have quite a degree of rusted on supporters of either side of politics,i.e. people who will always vote Labor,(centre-left.),and people who will always vote Liberal/National(centre-right.)no matter what, so our elections are really only decided by the folks who live in about 25-30 marginal seats out of 150 in the House of Representatives who actually decide the government.
My wish politically,(pipedream would be more accurate.)would be for every single electorate to be a marginal seat which neither side can take for granted.
The Senate, which is supposed to operate as a state's house,i.e. the senators represent their respective states, however in reality they just represent their respective parties,although it does at least operate as a bit of a handbrake on the excesses of the executive government,(it can refuse to pass legislation and insist on amendments to legislation,and as a last resort can actually stop the government's money supply, which can lead to a government being removed by the Governor-General,(the local head of state aka representative of the Queen.)and a fresh general election being called.
Cheers.
Steve.

 

[panthera]

Steve,

I think it was Theo or Louis who posted a really good summary of what the European Parliament does, doesn't, should and should most definitely not do. Until that person or someone else with better understanding than me posts, here's a link on the matter.

Voting here isn't compulsory. Germans learned two bitter lessons in the early twentieth century which have not been forgotten. First, inflation sucks. Second, when reasonable people don't vote, the extremes win.

The individual states did, indeed, cede many sovereign responsibilities to this overarching government with the underlying understanding that certain basics like human dignity and religious freedom were never to be touched.

And that is where people like me get upset - until we have a real European constitution, our rights are as easily trampled as were those of the striking workers or the Irish under Mad Maggie. The fact that the Parliament up until now has expanded rights is meaningless, they have no oversight or control should extremists come to power without a constitutional basis.

The last attempts at getting a constitution ratified have been stymied by individual countries for political purposes. This matter should have been addressed earlier on and is now blocking all further progress on universal human rights for gays as well as other matters.

One positive step forward - until fairly recently, really rotten politicians, the kinds you can't get rid of because they know were the bones are buried, were elected to the European Parliament. 2004 and just this last week, we have seen a level of candidates which is at the same dismal level as those who run for local and national office. But no worse.

Hope this helps - I'm sure wiser folks will post more on the topic.

http://europa.eu/institutions/inst/parliament/index_en.htm

 

[deeprinser]

Hi .
To my shock and horror in the U.K.!
One British national party member voted in . ( The national front or nazi party) Extreme right wing.
In my area ( Yorkshire )

Another in the north west region.
So thats 2 euro mps from the U.K that are nazi's ( hitler sympathisers) Oh yes !
Dont believe me ? Research The BNP -UK.

Well done U.K - Our forefathers fought and died to save us from the nazi's and now you have given the nazi's your vote to represent you !
You Dumb, evil ,f*****g idiots .

 

[twinniefan]

Thanks

Mnay thanks for the info link Panthera, most interesting reading.
Cheers.
Steve.