Brexit again...

[geosname]

If there is only one name on the ballot paper and you don't put your X to it..... is it spoiled ?

[geosname]

Only one name on the ballot paper...... it was pretty close.

[ginge]

16 hours ago, For Us All said:

 

Number of candidates on the the ballot paper - One.

You couldn't make it up.

Bit like the Brexit Party self appointed leadership...except there's no way of removing them democratically.

[Fosse69]

7 hours ago, geosname said:

Typical EU....... if we want your opinion we will give it to you.

President selected by the 28  Prime Ministers of the EU countries, if not approved by the MEPs another President is selected. Usually picked by the largest grouping so related to the votes cast by the electorate, not that a country with a unelected upper chamber can moan. 

[TheSage]

We can debate the merits or otherwise of all political systems across the world - including this appointment - but it was a confirmatory vote and could have been rejected. The 28 commissioners, where all countries are represented, eventually try and decide who should be nominated and put to the vote in the EU Parliament. The name can be rejected and sent back and the result was marginal this time because the recent elections were all over the place. 

It's based around the spitzenkandidat process, whereby the major groupings nominate people they think can do the best job. That's perhaps where it is open to most criticism but once the Commission agree on a name it is then voted on by MPs. The Office is for 5 years and the it begins all over again.

It has its flaws but no more so than what happens in the UK, as I've said before. Voters are not asked who the next PM should be are they? No-one votes for the monarchy or civil list. The House of Lords is not democratic. Our first past the post system can give the executive almighty power with little over 40% of the popular vote. Most seats are safe seats. So I don't think we are in a position to criticise too much. Running an organisation with 28 countries and dozens of different parties and MEPs isn't a simple task. It's quite nice in some ways to see a female elected, though she's a bit too far right for me! 

The other point to make is that because the press in this country have been hostile and overly critical of the EU since we joined it is hard to get objective information about what goes on. So elections are never reported. We never see candidates debating. We are never told about EU involvement in the local area. Any good EU news is hidden away or ignored in favour of anti-immigration rhetoric, or the EU is banning our bananas, or the EU is closing our beaches, or the EU is about to ban our coffee. The list goes on and on and on and you really need to read between the lines, be objective and use a bit of common sense.

[Heatwave]

1 hour ago, geosname said:

Only one name on the ballot paper...... it was pretty close.

A bit like when Theresa May was 'elected' then. True, she did face the electorate eventually, but I bet she wishes she hadn't now.

[Heatwave]

8 hours ago, geosname said:

Who else would you have voting?

She should have gone to the country when she didn't get her deal through. She didn't because she knew she'd lose.

[geosname]

20 minutes ago, Heatwave said:

She should have gone to the country when she didn't get her deal through. She didn't because she knew she'd lose.

But that wouldn't elect a Tory leader..... you stated only Tory members vote to elect a leader..... who else should vote?

She didn't get elected leader because no one else wanted to take the poison chalice. 

[geosname]

1 hour ago, ginge said:

Bit like the Brexit Party self appointed leadership...except there's no way of removing them democratically.

If your not a member of course there isn't.... why should there be?..... only members vote them in, only members can get them out..... unless they fall on their sword..

We're you asked to vote on the captain of the belfry golf club?

[Fosse69]

1 hour ago, TheSage said:

We can debate the merits or otherwise of all political systems across the world - including this appointment - but it was a confirmatory vote and could have been rejected. The 28 commissioners, where all countries are represented, eventually try and decide who should be nominated and put to the vote in the EU Parliament. The name can be rejected and sent back and the result was marginal this time because the recent elections were all over the place. 

It's based around the spitzenkandidat process, whereby the major groupings nominate people they think can do the best job. That's perhaps where it is open to most criticism but once the Commission agree on a name it is then voted on by MPs. The Office is for 5 years and the it begins all over again.

It has its flaws but no more so than what happens in the UK, as I've said before. Voters are not asked who the next PM should be are they? No-one votes for the monarchy or civil list. The House of Lords is not democratic. Our first past the post system can give the executive almighty power with little over 40% of the popular vote. Most seats are safe seats. So I don't think we are in a position to criticise too much. Running an organisation with 28 countries and dozens of different parties and MEPs isn't a simple task. It's quite nice in some ways to see a female elected, though she's a bit too far right for me! 

The other point to make is that because the press in this country have been hostile and overly critical of the EU since we joined it is hard to get objective information about what goes on. So elections are never reported. We never see candidates debating. We are never told about EU involvement in the local area. Any good EU news is hidden away or ignored in favour of anti-immigration rhetoric, or the EU is banning our bananas, or the EU is closing our beaches, or the EU is about to ban our coffee. The list goes on and on and on and you really need to read between the lines, be objective and use a bit of common sense.

Apparently, when she has selected her team, cabinet or whatever it is called, the whole lot is again sent for confirmation to the MEPs in October. Still Farage didn't object to her being the first German for 50 years.

[geosname]

1 hour ago, Fosse69 said:

Apparently, when she has selected her team, cabinet or whatever it is called, the whole lot is again sent for confirmation to the MEPs in October. Still Farage didn't object to her being the first German for 50 years.

Is this the first German leader of Europe since the 40s? 

[ginge]

4 hours ago, geosname said:

If your not a member of course there isn't.... why should there be?..... only members vote them in, only members can get them out..... unless they fall on their sword..

We're you asked to vote on the captain of the belfry golf club?

The members did not appoint Farage...

The members can not get rid of him if they wanted like all other democratic parties.

[geosname]

10 minutes ago, ginge said:

The members did not appoint Farage...

The members can not get rid of him if they wanted like all other democratic parties.

When he started the party he was the only member..... not saying it's right...... do you know how difficult it is to unseat a leader?

[For Us All]

7 hours ago, geosname said:

Only one name on the ballot paper...... it was pretty close.

 

1 hour ago, ginge said:

The members did not appoint Farage...

The members can not get rid of him if they wanted like all other democratic parties.

Why not?

[Davebrad]

5 hours ago, geosname said:

Is this the first German leader of Europe since the 40s? 

his was the only name on the paper as well... and look how that turned out.