A chara, – The recent impasse between British prime minister David Cameron and EU leaders highlights yet again the diluted democracy that now permeates European politics ("UK to force vote on Juncker appointment", June 23rd).
Mr Cameron has been attacked by many "pro-EU" politicians for his objection to the coronation of Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission. They point to the Spitzenkandidaten process and claim that as a result of the European elections, Mr Juncker has been elected.
I did not see Mr Juncker’s face on a single election poster in Ireland, nor did I see his name on the ballot paper, and there was very little discussion during the campaign about the policies of Mr Juncker and of the other candidates for the presidency of the European Commission. While this new “process” was known before the European elections, I think it is safe to say that the vast majority of the electorate did not vote for MEPs based on who their party supported for commission president.
Yet a vote for any Fine Gael candidate was deemed to be a vote for Mr Junker. This is the the usual “inferred mandate” politics that the EU engages in.
Mr Cameron’s refusal to bow to Europe over this issue is undoubtedly a result of the increasing anti-EU sentiment in the UK and his domestic political needs, but isn’t that what true democracy is supposed to be – politicians responding to the wishes and sentiments of the citizens that vote for them?
I suppose that an organisation that does not take no for an answer from the people is unlikely to care about true democracy. – Is mise,
SIMON O’CONNOR,
Lismore Road,
Crumlin,
Dublin 12.