Unelected EU commissioner vows to block elected governments

Unelected EU commissioner vows to block elected governments

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Discussion

Puggit

Original Poster:

48,355 posts

247 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
In case anyone is on the fence, and even those of you who have made your mind up to vote 'stay' - if you do vote stay, you are voting against democracy:

Juncker vows to use new powers to block the far-right


Before anyone accuses me of being a facist - I do not support, I have never been a member of, I have never voted for a far right party.

JagLover

42,265 posts

234 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
I guess the obvious question is how are they defining "Far-right"

Is it marching around in jackboots and plotting to invade Poland. Or is it adopting policies that would have been considered centre-right until the last decade or so.

Puggit

Original Poster:

48,355 posts

247 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
JagLover said:
I guess the obvious question is how are they defining "Far-right"

Is it marching around in jackboots and plotting to invade Poland. Or is it adopting policies that would have been considered centre-right until the last decade or so.
Interesting you mention Poland... http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/16a8f504-bb72-11e5-b151-...

Einion Yrth

19,575 posts

243 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
JagLover said:
I guess the obvious question is how are they defining "Far-right"

Is it marching around in jackboots and plotting to invade Poland. Or is it adopting policies that would have been considered centre-right until the last decade or so.
Or is it " not agreeing with the EU commission"?

Esseesse

8,969 posts

207 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
Article said:
Under powers given to the commission in 2014, he can trigger a “rule of law mechanism” for countries that depart from democratic norms by putting a government under... (I don't pay)
So is a 'far right' government ok if it is there by democratic norms?

Article said:
The EU will isolate and use sanctions against any far-right or populist governments that are swept to power or presidential office on the wave of popular anger against migration.
So not just 'far right', also 'populist'. So would that include a UKIP government? Is it now an unacceptable political position to wish for less or no migration?

Axionknight

8,505 posts

134 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
Populist is a pretty broad term, but considering what we know of the EU I'm pretty sure it means "anti EU" in this particular case.

JagLover

42,265 posts

234 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
Esseesse said:
So not just 'far right', also 'populist'. So would that include a UKIP government? Is it now an unacceptable political position to wish for less or no migration?
I think for "populist" you could substitute "any concern for the wishes of ordinary voters"

We seem to be regressing in Europe to rule by an unelected elite once again. The new elite have less titles, and far more diverse backgrounds and occupations, but it is anti-democratic just the same.

AJS-

15,366 posts

235 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
Isn't pretty much any government that is elected 'populist' by definition? Or only ones who disagree with the European Commission?

Europa1

10,923 posts

187 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
I suspect Mr Juncker is engaging in a bit of macho posturing and being a tad over-simplistic in what the mechanism actually says, and The Times has understandably seized on that.

Axionknight

8,505 posts

134 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
AJS- said:
Isn't pretty much any government that is elected 'populist' by definition? Or only ones who disagree with the European Commission?
The definition is "a member or adherent of a political party seeking to represent the interests of ordinary people".

So it definitely doesn't encompass Labour or the Tories laugh

Axionknight

8,505 posts

134 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
Europa1 said:
I suspect Mr Juncker is engaging in a bit of macho posturing and being a tad over-simplistic in what the mechanism actually says, and The Times has understandably seized on that.
He may not have had his morning brandy to steady himself.

Puggit

Original Poster:

48,355 posts

247 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
Europa1 said:
I suspect Mr Juncker is engaging in a bit of macho posturing and being a tad over-simplistic in what the mechanism actually says, and The Times has understandably seized on that.
I didn't realise my earlier FT link wouldn't work - but here's a Yahoo article about the EU threatening Poland too.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/polands-pm-no-risk-eu-sa...

Hosenbugler

1,854 posts

101 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
This is not new, did they not (The EU commision) threaten sacntions against Austria when they elected a rightist back in the Blair years?

From memory the politician in question was later killed in a car crash.

Juncker's comments are just another example of the authoritarian construct the EU is, and will only become moreso as time unfolds.

Europa1

10,923 posts

187 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
Puggit said:
Europa1 said:
I suspect Mr Juncker is engaging in a bit of macho posturing and being a tad over-simplistic in what the mechanism actually says, and The Times has understandably seized on that.
I didn't realise my earlier FT link wouldn't work - but here's a Yahoo article about the EU threatening Poland too.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/polands-pm-no-risk-eu-sa...
Yes, tricky one isn't it - the EU undertaking a "preliminary assessment" of changes to laws that would affect the media and the constitutional court, as a first step in a "long drawn out process" that could ultimately lead to sanctions. Is that actually a bad thing?

Guybrush

4,330 posts

205 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
Remainians should be aware they are voting for the eventual removal of their ability to vote for a government they want. They are voting for a soviet style of government of all the countries, a governing body over which they will have no control and no chance to vote out. In short, if they are frightened and thus influenced by the BS Remainian scare tactics, then they really are fools.

Axionknight

8,505 posts

134 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
Guybrush said:
Remainians should be aware they are voting for the eventual removal of their ability to vote for a government they want. They are voting for a soviet style of government of all the countries, a governing body over which they will have no control and no chance to vote out. In short, if they are frightened and thus influenced by the BS Remainian scare tactics, then they really are fools.
Don't worry, Dave has an assurance that we won't be dragged into ever closer union!

Sylvaforever

2,212 posts

97 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
We won't be "dragged" anywhere as by voting remain we will be agreeing to whatever they come up with!!

Yes, we will.

Guybrush

4,330 posts

205 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
Axionknight said:
Guybrush said:
Remainians should be aware they are voting for the eventual removal of their ability to vote for a government they want. They are voting for a soviet style of government of all the countries, a governing body over which they will have no control and no chance to vote out. In short, if they are frightened and thus influenced by the BS Remainian scare tactics, then they really are fools.
Don't worry, Dave has an assurance that we won't be dragged into ever closer union!
Phew that's ok. ...and we will keep immigration down too... rolleyes

wc98

10,334 posts

139 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
a significant amount of ph members conspicuous by their absence on this thread. where is ///ajd for instance ? zod ? steady eddie ?

Likes Fast Cars

2,769 posts

164 months

Tuesday 24th May 2016
quotequote all
The Remainians really ought to take heed and get a good dose of reality. It staggers me that anyone can advocate staying in an oppressive clique like the EU, it is truly mind-boggling.