The fact that David Cameron recognises the unsuitability of Jean Claude Juncker doesn't make it any less true.
The fact that David Cameron recognises the unsuitability of Jean Claude Juncker doesn’t make it any less true
The impending anointment of Jean Claude Juncker to the presidency of the European Commission is supposed to be something of concern only to the right. Specifically, David Cameron and his restless backbenches.
It would be a mistake, however, to assume that concern for European democracy is the preserve of conservatives. Indeed, those who support the European project, as we do, ought to be the most vocal in their opposition to anything that remotely resembles a stitch up.
David Cameron may have lost the battle with Europe over Juncker, but on the point of principle he is correct: Juncker has no popular mandate to assume the European presidency. Below are just a few reasons why:
Only one in 10 Europeans even know who Jean Claude Juncker is
This shows up for what it is the claim that Juncker has a popular mandate simply because the voters in the recent European elections voted for the European People’s Party, whose candidate for the top job is Juncker. A popular mandate requires that people actually understand what it is they are voting for. Only one in 10 Europeans even know who Jean Claude Juncker is. This is not democracy; as David Cameron recognises.
Britain is also much more likely to leave the EU in the next parliament with Juncker as President of the Commission. This is why anti-European politicians are warming to the idea of a Juncker presidency. ‘More of the same’ is not palatable to most British people. It shouldn’t be tolerated by the left, either.
It isn’t right-wing to worry about this
Just because someone we don’t like thinks something that doesn’t automatically mean said person is wrong. This should be obvious, but often it needs saying. David Cameron is right about Jean Claude Juncker for the wrong reasons. The problem isn’t that Juncker wants an ‘ever closer union’, it’s that Juncker is being shoehorned into the top job via undemocratic means.
This isn’t democracy
Juncker is the European People’s Party (EPP) choice for President of the European Commission, and the EPP emerged as the largest bloc from the European elections last month. So, as the nomination of the largest bloc, Juncker has every right to assume the presidency, right?
In reality things are a lot more complicated. For one thing it is a fantasy to pretend that the European Parliament is more democratic than the European Council, which is made up of elected heads of government. As the Economist puts it, voters “treat European elections as second-order national polls. In every single EU country, turnout is much higher in national elections…By insisting that it will block anybody other than Mr Juncker, the parliament is trying to deny the European Council its prerogative”.
He’s no one’s choice and doesn’t appear to particularly want the job
Most EU leaders consider Juncker a poor choice for the Presidency. He has a reputation as an out of touch bureaucrat for a very good reason, and his only real political achievement to date has been to cling to power in a country that has built a reputation as the EU’s top tax haven. Juncker himself is even rumoured to prefer the job of President of the European Council. He’s the establishment conpromise, and progressives ought to be careful about rushing in to defend any status quo, let along the European one.
40 Responses to “Why the left should be just as angry about Juncker as David Cameron”
Leon Wolfeson
No, that’s your ridiculous prohibitionist views, and your projection of them.
What actually happens is called “democracy”.
Leon Wolfeson
Ah yes, so to you democracy is a terrible thing your UKIP will work against, noted. Democracy helps you fight against in in your world, I see. And people who are convinced about isolationism will be isolationist, and try and make the UK wither. Same old, same old.
This *article* is UKIP fodder, no more.
Guest
Yes, you can’t wait to get the jackboots back here, and to launch that war eh?
Leon Wolfeson
…It’s not a popular position.
Keep saying that democracy is undemocratic, that despite the fact your agenda is well-represented (although you might ask the UKIP MEP’s to do some work), you keep throwing tantrums simply because you’re not getting your way, as a distinct minority with a radical agenda,
Why doesn’t the author bitterly oppose democracy like you, as you make up nonsense and deny general elections occur in every EU state…even Bloodworth’s UKIP propaganda is not extreme enough for you!
Really, it’s transparent that your enemy is democracy, since it won’t vote the way you demand it does. Lisbon expanded democracy in the EU…hence your hate. Keep saying that the UK, a EU member is a dung heap though.
A Ka
What a ridiculous comment Leon. Direct democracy is the best in the world. Countries like Switzerland and Norway have very high GDP and very high happiness ratings from the people. Switzerland is not in the EU because their people were allowed referendums on whether to join or not. The UK has not dropped the Pound for the Euro because even Blair was not confident enough in financial union to force it in. Britain has never been isolationalist. Many countries have benefitted from the systems of gvnt Britain left with ex-Empire countries post colonialism. The current problems with financial system are due to US style capitalism not the British way. Both the Great depression and Great rcession were due to dubious financial practices in the US. Even Robert Peston has written of this. Democracy, when not abused by a few vested interest parties, such as New Labour, New Tories and New Liberals is an excellent system. But direct democracy is the most democratic system in actual use in the world, it frightens the three main parties since implementing direct democracy allows to much say from the general public. I expect that you want to keep the two party system that has put off voters for years to be kept don’t you Leon?