Editorial - Democrat July-August 2008
Kill the Lisbon Treaty - Defend democracy
The Irish electorate rejected the EU Constitution and sent the EU-federalists into a tail-spin. The only electorate out of 27 Member States permitted to debate and cast a vote on the Lisbon Treaty cocked a snook at EU plans to set up an EU State and defended democracy on behalf of 500 million people.
Ireland did this once before over the Nice Treaty and were made to vote again. However, this time it is uncertain whether forcing a second referendum would result in a Yes! vote. In June, a majority of the electorate turned out which included 74% of the working class voting No!
Another plan is emerging which includes putting on the frighteners consisting of dire threats such as being booted out of the EU, all done in the hope that the Irish will fall into line.
Cast aside is the idea of amending the Treaty because it involves a further round of ratification. One ploy is to call up, in the name of democracy, and say the Irish cannot be left with deciding the fate of 500 millions. This conveniently forgets that the rest of the 500 millions were not given the opportunity to express their opinion in a referendum precisely because the electorates in several countries, including Britain, would also have rejected the Treaty.
President Sarkozy of France, and of the EU, stated on 15 June that Ireland would have to vote again prior to visiting Ireland where he said he was going to ‘listen’. Other EU-elite politicians have tried to keep matters quiet and said it is up to the Irish Government to come up with a scheme to get around the boulder. EU Treaties and legislation makes clear that all 27 Member States must ratify which means the EU Constitution is dead for the second time.
The decision of the Irish electorate must be respected and that requirement must be impressed on our own government in as many ways as possible.
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