The most irksome fact about all the current political maneuverings going on within the European Commission is that above all, the body is ostensibly representative of the European citizenry and yet acts in such a way concerning the makeup of its governing executive as to promote nothing more or less than absolute uniformity with accepted political thinking. And to hell with the citizens.
The fact that Italy supports Signor Buttiglione is apparently insufficient to earn him a place in the executive. In order for him to adopt a position of power he must conform to not only the political beliefs of the many who consider Blairite politics the right-wing high-watermark (the Commission’s left wing is about the ugliest to be found around the world, being entirely constituted of veteran ideologues who are rewarded for years of solemn solidarity with the party line with their appointment, it chokes upon the very image of Silvio Berlusconi or any man who has earned his approval) but apparently to the spiritual and moral consensus too, lest he be judged unfit to govern. This is nothing more or less than discrimination and pours a veritable pitcher of water over the concept of a representative Commission. Buttiglione’s views are not only Commonplace throughout Italy, but as was pointed out by Stephen Pollard, are positively the status quo in the largely islamic state of Turkey who’s entry into the EU is supposed to widen the spectrum of the EU’s already phenomenal cultural layout.
The Commission is a body with considerable power, even given the constitution’s seeding of increased authority to the Parliament. It still remains the arbiter of fact with regards to anti trust violations of Articles 81 and 82 along with being a massive force in policy decision and the drafting of legislation. Why then, are we asked to accept such a body if it prevents the appointment of men who’s only crime is to have a religious calling, removed from their politics, which differs with that of the accepted norm amongst the Commission’s liberal sect?
Would we allow the House of Lords such power today? Obviously not and that is precisely because it is not a democratically elected body. Any semblance of proportionate representation which the Commission once had seems to me, utterly refuted.
I’ve said before that I’m Pro-European but every day it is not the leaflets of UKIP but rather the actions of the three pillars themselves which turn me away from the European Union.
Later
John
Posted by John Swaine at October 29, 2004 12:46 PM | TrackBack