When all the Irish Lisbon 2009 referendum votes have been counted, the outcome is clear: Yes 67.1 per cent (1,214,268 votes), against 32.9 per cent (594,606 No votes). The swing to the Yes side was massive, 20.53 per cent.
The Irish were better informed after a long gestation period, the there was more energy in the Yes campaigns, and this time assurances from the European partners revealed misleading assertions, which had confused voters in the first referendum. The national Commissioner was a substantive promise.
The economic difficulties in Ireland highlighted that Ireland’s future lies in Europe. The voters were able to distinguish between the Lisbon Treaty/EU issue and the unpopularity of the present government.
***
Questions to rejectionists
Are you going to respect the Lisbon 2009 referendum vote by Ireland to approve the Treaty of Lisbon?
Are you going to respect the earlier approval of 26 national parliaments?
What are you going to help the Lisbon Treaty enter into force and to be put into practice according to the will of 27 democratic EU member states?
I am asking you:
Cóir/Youth Defence, Declan Ganley, Anthony Coughlan, British National Party BNP, Sinn Fein, UK Independence Party UKIP, Daniel Hannan, William Hague, David Cameron, UK Conservative Party, Rupert Murdoch, Nigel Farage, Nick Griffin, Vaclav Klaus, Jiri Oberfalzer and the other defeated Czech Senators.
***
All the member states of the European Union have now spoken. The Lisbon Treaty is a step on the road to a better Europe.
Are you ready to join the work for a better Europe?
Some respect for democratic decisions, please.
Ralf Grahn
Saturday, 3 October 2009
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One of the important aspects of "democracy" that the second Lisbon vote pointed up was the need for the electorate to be fully - and properly - informed. This is one area where there is a huge EU deficit.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure that Cameron, et al want there electorate to be "fully and properly" informed. They don't appear to see the Great British electorate as adults: more a rabble, to be aroused by emotional fears of some non-existent possibility (eg like the Irish in vote 1).
If Barroso wants to do something useful he could start a "truth" campaign.
The treaty upon which the Irish have now approved has not been changed by one single comma from that they earlier rejected.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I was not asked the questions that you directly posed to others in your post, I will reply as best I may after this particularly shameful day for our Continent, when you justify the following statement:
The Lisbon Treaty is a step on the road to a better Europe.
In your own detailed analysis of the Treaty which I have followed over many months you yourself suggest that the democratic deficit is widened, the langauge increasingly obscure and the justification often hard to comprehend.
Nowhere in the Treaty is a solution offered for the unaudited accounts nor deep corruption at every level of the EU.
The complete farce of the Parliament's empty powers is nowhere addressed and is hardly likely to be improved with an appointed Council (EU) President and a Foreign Minister.
The Irish have been bullied into submission. In France the roads are sided by signs "La France se muerte" EU regulation is to blame.
This EU is a monster that has taken one more step towards its own destruction with its disgusting actions over the Lisbon Treaty with the Irish.
Give the rest of the electors in Europe their chance to vote.... then crow about democracy. I will abide by the result, will you and others on the EU payroll then quietly disappear if it goes the wrong way?
French Derek,
ReplyDeleteYou are right. Regardless of referendums enlightened voters should know about the European Union, but if the school system fails, the tabloids take their owners' "disnformation" cue and the leading politicians either ignore the EU or act as rabble rousers?
Many people I meet admit that they should know more about the European Union, but voluntary education or time consuming study are not that much of a priority.
By the way, I have been following some blog discussions of Swedish Pirate Party supporters, and I can hardly believe my eyes.
If this is the level of general knowledge among young tech savvy males in a fairly advanced country, our future is bleak.
About the truth campaign: What the EU institutions are really bad at is to conduct "guerilla" information campaigns against baseless assertions and loony rumours spreading like sand storms in no time.
I have found one interview quote by a Commission spokesperson that the brochure on the Lisbon Treaty was appropriate, but scores of columns, statements by politicians campaigning for No and blog posts plus comments accusing the Commission of illegal use of funds and interference in the Irish referendum campaign.
It takes a whole new attitude to counter attacks like these, and the corporate cultures of the EU institutions haven't even started to learn.
Martin Cole,
ReplyDeleteI am not on the EU pay roll.
I write as an independent EU citizen.
In my view, the Lisbon Treaty is an improvement on the Nice Treaty, and it is the best deal on offer, despite its obvious imperfections.
The Lisbon Treaty is (but) a step forward.
I apologise that I implied you were on the direct pay roll of this dreadful creation.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless an expert and lecturer in the "so-called" law of the EU would seem to derive some recompense from its existence, which might reduce were it to disappear.
As you write as an independent EU citizen, perhaps you may wish to choose to reply, as such, to the other points raised in my earlier post.
I am British, internationally travelled and one-time resident of the USA, now Franceapparently . I am not an independent EU citizen, I believe there can be no such thing, have you a document issued at birth that makes you such? Am I wrong to sooner wish death than be a part of this EU?
I admire your blog and appreciate your posting my sometimes obstructive comments. I believe that beneath the EU facade, an open mind is sometimes at work on your blog. Omit this as a friendly aside if you wish! Despair is what I feel this evening and your blog has borne the brunt!
Martin Cole,
ReplyDeleteAs you may have noticed, I do not find the European Union a dreadful creation, on the contrary.
With regard to the EU's imperfections, I have taken some comfort from how parliamentary democracy has evolved at national level, but once the principles accepted I would hope for faster introduction at EU level.
I have no birth certificate telling that I am either independent or an EU citizen.
I was born before the European Union and anyway my country became a member only in 1995.
But I do have an EU passport with the name of my country on the front.
In addition, I can always look up the treaty provisions on EU citizenship.
Generally, to your comments, the Lisbon Treaty is only a step towards a more democratic, effective and transparent union, so I have at times wondered if it is worth the candle.
But I have realised that one needs much patience in a system still based on member states and progress only to the degree that it is agreed by the least willing (unanimity).
I am very surprised the way Ireland voted, but they are desperate because of the economy.
ReplyDeleteLisa,
ReplyDeleteFew could have guessed the more than 20 per cent swing to Yes, but I have suggested some additional reasons for the Irish vote in favour of the Lisbon Treaty.
I believe that the outcome is in the interest of Ireland and Europe.
YESTERDAY, A LAND THAT HAS ALREADY DISTINGUISHED ITSELF FOR WALLOWING IN THE BASEST AND MOST UNSPEAKABLE FORMS OF SOUL-DAMNING IDOLATRY, HAS PLUNGED EVEN FURTHER INTO DARKNESS EMBRACING THE COMING BEAST GOVERNMENT AND EVENTUAL ONE-WORLD SAPPHIC DICTATORSHIP AND ONE-WORLD RELIGION UNDER THE CRUEL REIGN OF PIAPS!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIT SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE THAT THEY HATE FREEDOM GIVEN THEIR ATTACKS IN BRITISH ULSTÈR, LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM AND THEIR INCREASING THREATS AGAINST AMERICA!!!!
AMERICA MUST BE WILLING TO GRANT POLITICAL ASYLUM TO ANY BELIEVERS IN THAT SIN-SICK LAND BEFORE THEY ARE ARRESTED AND TORTURED!!!!!
YET, TOO, WE MAY BE COMFORTED THAT AS THE PLANET ROLLS FULL SPEED TOWARDS THE GREAT TRIBULATION (CRUEL REIGN OF PIAPS), WE ARE ALSO THAT MUCH CLOSER TO THE COMING RATURE!!!!
RAPTURE!!!!! RAPTURE!!!!! RAPTURE!!!!!!!!
FUCK YOU, PIAPS!!!!
Ralph,
ReplyDeleteFar from it.
If you want to contribute, write with smaller letters next time.
Personally, I see it as a strength of the European Union that it joins people from different countries, with different cultures and languages, of various political and religious persuasions to look for common solutions to challenges of the 21st century.
Ralph,
ReplyDeleteI will get back to you on that point
You ask,
ReplyDeleteAre you going to respect the Lisbon 2009 referendum vote by Ireland to approve the Treaty of Lisbon?
Why should we, none of you respected the Lisbon 2008 Referendum vote by Ireland. In fact the EU Parliament voted against accepting the Irish vote if it was no.
Perhaps it should be the best of three.
Gawain,
ReplyDeletePerhaps you should, because Nigel Farage did not sound especially respectful after the Irish vote count yesterday.
I even got the impression that respect works only one way.
Rayatcov,
ReplyDeletePerhaps it is difficult for you to comprehend that European integration is an evolving project, built on common interests and an effort to find joint solutions.
The Lisbon Treaty had been agreed by 27 politically responsible governments and approved by 26 national parliaments (mostly by qualified majorities and in many cases by two chambers).
The Irish No vote resulted from wild and inaccurate claims by No campaigners. The Irish government asked for and got clarifications, which largely put these worries to rest. In addition, the European partners promised a Commissioner to Ireland and every other member state, if the Lisbon Treaty enters into force.
The turnout Friday was higher and the Yes vote overwhelming.
But if I follow your logic, the next Conservative government in the UK would be prevented from revoking the British ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. Am I right?
Besides, there is a certain difference between constructive actions and destructive acts.
The EU requires a birth certificate
ReplyDeleteconstant gina,
ReplyDeleteBut the EU did not require a birth certificate before it existed.