Much has been said about the election of a new President of the United States of America. The people have spoken, and I congratulate them on their choice of executive.
As a citizen of the European Union, I would just like to add an observation and a question:
In my view, Europe should opt for a parliamentary system, with a Prime Minister at the helm.
How long will it take before we are allowed to elect our common executive?
Ralf Grahn
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
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In my view, Europe should opt for a parliamentary system, with a Prime Minister at the helm.
ReplyDeleteIn what geographically defined area?
Including or excluding Turkey? Would Finns really accept the dilution of their vote in their affairs to the extent required in the former case?
What of National Parliaments, presently the main democratic guardians of any individual freedoms and liberties? They would become completely defunct.
America has its Constitution, the EU has only the Nice Treaty, cobbled together as a compromise in the wee wee hours of the morning with little forethought and zero proper consideration.
The last thing we should be considering is further power or a Prime Minister for the sham European Parliament.
Martin Cole,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment.
These are my personal views, so they have very little to do what majorities in various EU member states are able to imagine at the moment, without being told by their national leaders to expect a democratic European Union, ever.
The area would be the same as the EU's, or (initially) a smaller union based on democratic principles.
It would be a parliamentary democracy, with proportional representation (in the first chamber, and probably a senate with state representatives, preferebly elected by the people, as in the USA).
Based primarily on the citizens, this European parliament would not be a sham.
Instead of 'unelected bureaucrats', we would have a politically accountable government.
National parliaments would be no more defunct than state parliaments in federations, such as Germany or the US.