In my story for the September issue of the Torch (check out the new website, kudos to Katherine), I mention the tremendous influence of Declan Ganley and Libertas on the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty last year. Here’s a bit about why Ganley is against it:
Lisbon, Ganley believes, is anti-European, calling it “something that is against the citizens that it purports to speak for.” Rather than fostering a government representative of the people, Lisbon would grow the unelected bureaucracy for the EU. In his speech at Heritage, Ganley points out that the EU government already dictates hundreds of laws every year to member states while those countries’ own governments apply the rubber stamp.
“The democratic legitimacy of parliaments in exercising their duty is being eviscerated by a Brussels that is not democratically accountable,” he said. “As a moderate and as someone who believes in democracy, that is unacceptable to me.”
Ganley and Libertas, the advocacy group and quasi-political party he founded, were perhaps the most critical factor in Ireland’s voting “no” on Lisbon. Once I heard there was to be another vote–an entirely undemocratic procedure, of course–I expected Ganley and Libertas to be the major players once again. But when I got here, I noticed that Cóir, along with Sinn Féin and others, were the only “no” voices visible on the streets. The “yes” voices, much more organized and better funded, are everywhere; Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labour and Green are all for Lisbon (Fianna Fail and Green are the two biggest parties in the coalition government, and Fine Gael is the strongest opposition party). But the biggest voice, as far as I could tell, wasn’t around this time around.
Until last week, when I overheard a radio debate with Ganley on RTÉ. Ganley was making the same points about the undemocratic nature of Lisbon, and he went one step further to decry the occasion of the second referendum. To me, it’s the most outrageous part of the whole Lisbon process; for Ganley, it’s an indication of the undemocratic future that awaits Europe under Lisbon.
Today, I saw the “reemergence” of Libertas on the streets of Galway, where they’ve put up some rather provacative posters. My favorite says, “European Democracy 1945-2009?” It’s a good strategy to get those signs up around here, since the best bet for beating Lisbon again will be outside of Dublin. But I wonder if some of these arguments, deep stuff about the nature of democracy, were good to hold back until the 11th hour. The vote is this Friday, and it remains to be seen how Ireland will vote on this a second time.
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Pleace vote for democracy and against the treaty of lisbon
Dear irish people!
Pleace stop the treaty of lisbon! Is is antidemocartic, militaristic, antisocial. The disadvantages are much bigger, than the advantages. The EU can live with its actuell laws. They should only be changed into a democratic direction. With the treaty of lisbon, the european council is able to change this treaty in great parts without asking the parliament. This is nearly the same law, which mades the nationl- rassistic- party of Germany so powerfull in our country in the year 1933. Our basic law (the german constitution) and all other european constitutions should not be replaced by the treaty of lisbon. But the new treaty tries to bring all right- sytstems in a lower level than the new european right. Here is my informationpage: http://sites.google.com/site/euradevormwald/english . When you have some more english information, pleace send me a link or text or write it into the visitors book of my page. And pleace spread this text all over Ireland.
In the hope in your activities for a better Europe, Felix Staratschek, Freiligrathstr. 2, D- 42477 Radevormwald (Germany)
Michael,
Put me down for 500 votes against Lisbon.
Pop
500 votes, got it. That’s better than holding another vote when the people have already spoken. I’ll mark it down for you.