Well, I won. Or was on the winning side anyway. I did a lot of work on the No campaign in the last couple of weeks, canvassing almost constantly, leafleting etc. Last Thursday night I could hardly sleep with the tension, but that turned to elation on Friday morning as I saw the tallies coming in.
My first reaction is that it proves the old saying – I’m not sure who said it, but it’s famous: “Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world; it’s the only thing that ever has”. There can’t have been too many people involved in the No campaign, and we have changed the EU. That’s no small thing. It was a great day for democracy, and I believe a great day for the EU.
My second reaction is utter disappointment. This is directed to both the leaders of the EU, and our own Government. The official result hadn’t even been announced, and EU Commission President Barroso was telling other countries to continue ratification. Other leaders said the EU countries who ratify the Treaty should move ahead with it, and that Ireland could negotiate a new accession Treaty. Others, like the British, said it was Ireland’s problem, and that they would continue. And Brian Cowen, John Gormley (who certainly isn’t acting like his Party is neutral on this) and others in our government said we had created a crisis for the EU. Worst was the German who said that “a minority of a minority” could not be allowed to hold up the 500 million people in the EU. He completely missed the irony in saying that, given that we were the only EU country to have a referendum, despite the previous rejection of the nearly identical Constitution by France and Holland in referenda.
If the EU wants to be taken seriously, it needs to be based on the fundamental principles of democracy. That means the people have the final say. It certainly does not mean that you try to squirm around the result of the only referendum held on the Lisbon Treaty. The contempt which the EU and European Governments have shown for the Irish referendum result unequivocally confirms the fears of the No campaigners, that they have no interest in democracy, only doing what they think needs done.
In a democracy, sometimes the other people win. That’s something those EU and European leaders need to reflect on.
Brian Cowen needs to go to the EU and tell them that we need a new Treaty, which bases the EU on consensus powersharing, accountability, transparency, and democracy. I fear that he is too arrogant to do that.
Filed under: Lisbon Treaty, Politics | Tagged: Lisbon
