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About the general views of the new President, he believes in a federal EU . He also believes in a strong friendship with the US and a strong Atlantic connection, and has plenty of experience in foreign policy. Speaks several languages and did his PhD in Economics in the US, where he also taught for a while.Colonel Olrik wrote:.. And he's the portuguese (ex) prime minister.
He just accepted the position half an hour ago, leaving the portuguese political system in a mess. His party has lost the very recent European elections and his personal choice for replacement is a guy 2/3 of the country hate for being a populist clown. The opposition, of course, wants antecipated elections. Fun, fun fun in Portugal right now. Luckily, with the Euro going on no one really cares.
Anyway, it's a good day for the more modest states in the EU
slighlty outdated story
He wasn't elected but appointed. The european commission president is appointed by the prime ministers of every member state. I think he is only accountable to them, don't know if the eu parliament has something to say there, I think not.The_Nice_Guy wrote:Was he an elected official, elected by a vote of the peoples of the EC? If not, then who's he accountable to? The officials who selected him?
TWG
Why? every european commission president has been apointed this way. Jose Manuel Durao Barroso is going to be the succesor of Romano ProdiThe_Nice_Guy wrote: I dunno why, but I have a very bad feeling about this.
Was he an elected official, elected by a vote of the peoples of the EC? If not, then who's he accountable to? The officials who selected him?
I dunno why, but I have a very bad feeling about this.
It has been like this since decades ago. He's chosen by the elected leaders of every nation, by unanimous vote, and then put to vote in the newly elected European parliament. Not perfect, but representative enough.
Gambler wrote:just a nitpick, he isn't the European Union president but the president of the European Commission ( we won't have a EU president until the constitution is ratified)
Also isn't his party part of the european popular party?
lol darn in America he couldn't even be elected in the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts. And he's center right in Portugal.Colonel Olrik wrote:About the general views of the new President, he believes in a federal EU . He also believes in a strong friendship with the US and a strong Atlantic connection, and has plenty of experience in foreign policy. Speaks several languages and did his PhD in Economics in the US, where he also taught for a while.Colonel Olrik wrote:.. And he's the portuguese (ex) prime minister.
He just accepted the position half an hour ago, leaving the portuguese political system in a mess. His party has lost the very recent European elections and his personal choice for replacement is a guy 2/3 of the country hate for being a populist clown. The opposition, of course, wants antecipated elections. Fun, fun fun in Portugal right now. Luckily, with the Euro going on no one really cares.
Anyway, it's a good day for the more modest states in the EU
slighlty outdated story
He's center-right here (dangerous leftish if you're american), an atheist, married and has three children.
Newly elected European parliament... So why not a parliamentary or electoral college system, where he has to actually get something from the common folk? Sure, nobody's asking for perfection, but this process seems rather too far removed. He didn't do any real campaigning in Europe itself, telling people what he's going to do for them(even if it might all turn out to be a pack of lies).Colonel Olrik wrote:
The EU can't work that way, at least of yet. In direct elections, the nationalistic vote would always talk louder. The english would vote for the english, the french for the french, etc. The parliament is elected directly by the people, in a representative democracy they do have the right to decide for them.The_Nice_Guy wrote: Newly elected European parliament... So why not a parliamentary or electoral college system, where he has to actually get something from the common folk? Sure, nobody's asking for perfection, but this process seems rather too far removed. He didn't do any real campaigning in Europe itself, telling people what he's going to do for them(even if it might all turn out to be a pack of lies).
Don't see the relevance. Anyway, the institution has been reformed in the last convention, as a result of the new Constitution.The fact that he is elected by the elected members of the European parliament is nothing to be grateful for... considering they can give themselves pay raises by sheer fiat.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jh ... ortal.html
wow, thats almost as representative of say when the highest court, of no country in particular, who was appointed by elected officials decides an election for head of state... theoretically speaking of course.Colonel Olrik wrote:
That theorical country you're talking about has an integrated enough population that direct vote makes sense. Not the case in the EU, that is in a situation in some ways comparable with the situation of that theoretical country 200 years ago.Col. Crackpot wrote:wow, thats almost as representative of say when the highest court, of no country in particular, who was appointed by elected officials decides an election for head of state... theoretically speaking of course.Colonel Olrik wrote:
afraid the horny Eastern Europeans might breed you out of power?Colonel Olrik wrote:That theorical country you're talking about has an integrated enough population that direct vote makes sense. Not the case in the EU, that is in a situation in some ways comparable with the situation of that theoretical country 200 years ago.Col. Crackpot wrote:wow, thats almost as representative of say when the highest court, of no country in particular, who was appointed by elected officials decides an election for head of state... theoretically speaking of course.Colonel Olrik wrote:
They might need to do some serious breeding to reach our levelCol. Crackpot wrote: afraid the horny Eastern Europeans might breed you out of power?
I don't know it seems like the West Europeans have forgotten how to have babys.Dahak wrote:They might need to do some serious breeding to reach our levelCol. Crackpot wrote: afraid the horny Eastern Europeans might breed you out of power?
Aeolus wrote:I don't know it seems like the West Europeans have forgotten how to have babys.Dahak wrote:They might need to do some serious breeding to reach our levelCol. Crackpot wrote: afraid the horny Eastern Europeans might breed you out of power?
God, that is so true.Colonel Olrik wrote:He's center-right here (dangerous leftish if you're american), an atheist, married and has three children.
Umm, the birth rates are roughly even FYI.Col. Crackpot wrote:afraid the horny Eastern Europeans might breed you out of power?Colonel Olrik wrote:That theorical country you're talking about has an integrated enough population that direct vote makes sense. Not the case in the EU, that is in a situation in some ways comparable with the situation of that theoretical country 200 years ago.
It is not unusual that the president is voted in by the government instead of a public vote.The_Nice_Guy wrote: The fact that he is elected by the elected members of the European parliament is nothing to be grateful for...
The EU right now is comparable to that particular non-integrated country of 200 years ago, but the steps it had taken are very much different, which accounts for the differences. For one, the sheer hubris of the constitution that tries to do waaaayyy too much.Not the case in the EU, that is in a situation in some ways comparable with the situation of that theoretical country 200 years ago.
Our Chancellor is elected by the parliament.Thinkmarble wrote:It is not unusual that the president is voted in by the government instead of a public vote.The_Nice_Guy wrote: The fact that he is elected by the elected members of the European parliament is nothing to be grateful for...
Germany is an example for that.
