A few days ago we read the following headline on EurActiv: Will UK Tories return EU Socialists to power?
In a great show of sportsmanship Gordon Brown has now evened the odds: Will UK Labour return EU Conservatives to power?
As far as I know, Brown is now the third PES (Party of European Socialists) affiliated prime minister to endorse a new five year term for José Manuel Barroso at the head of the Commission.
***
What can I say?
I feel really sorry for the PES activists who spent time and energy debating the 2009 election manifesto.
Why should nearly 400 million Europeans vote if totally ignored ─ in advance ─ by an electoral college of 27?
Why should European taxpayers finance political parties at European level and their foundations to the tune of 18 million euros a year, if the choice of candidates for the top spot is as abundant as in North Korea?
Ralf Grahn
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
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Well, there is still a slight chance that the PES will back Rasmussen for the job. But it's a big blow.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Sarkozy's doubts will translate into backing another candidate, or if it's just a diplomatic game.
Eurocentric,
ReplyDeleteThere have been few signs that the European leaders want a more democratic union. They have not even begun thinking in those terms.
But the (until today) complete failure of the European parties to fulfil their most basic task is equally hard to bear.
The voter turn-out may prove to be somewhat less than the North Korean 99.98 per cent...