Right Wing EMPs

[idun]

Such is the way democracy works in the EU countries that I know of, when people don't vote, and they don't vote in masses it leaves those that do with a lot of power, especially when they vote for right wing parties.

Should we make voting obligatory and fine people who don't?

I worry about the new EU Parliament, one neo na zi as far as I can see along with beaucoup very right wing elected MPs.

Maybe for now, they may stop some of the nonsense that we get from Brussels or is it Strasbourg, the way it costs us all a fortune.

Maybe they will give the impression that they are doing good job, but really where can it all lead?

I just hope that voters wake up and vote in the next elections we have, personally I do believe that policitans are all a waste of space, but these waste of spaces are 'our' waste of space and I for one can cope with them. I don't think that the public deal with the far right, I think that the far right deal with us.

Anyone else worried?

[YCCMB]

The minority parties who have managed to secure so many votes (although only from the minority who bothered to vote in the first place) are such a motley bunch of far right and far left that I think they may almost cancel one another out: although they're all supposed to be fervently "nationalist" in nature.

To my shame, I know nothing about the FN in terms of attendance and voting record, nor even if they've had much of a presence in the European Parliament to date, but as far as the UK is concerned, if UKIP just continue their policy of demonstrating their disdain for Europe by simply taking the money and not turning up (which pretty much sums up their approach to date), then I'm puzzled as to how they're going to influence any change.

[PaulT]

I would be totally horrified if voting was obligatory.

Why>.....

I question the mentality of those who do note vote - I hope I have bot offended anyone at this point.

So what does my one vote really matter - well it combines into an opinion made by a number of people - remember the affect of a butterfly.

Those who do not vote - do I want them deciding policies that will affect me? Most definitely NO. Forced to a polling station or risk a fine how considered would be there vote - in my opinion absolutely zero.

In view of the fact that these non voters make up a majority then the outcome would be 'winners' voted for by those who are uninterested and totally apathetic - no thanks.

And those that state 'don't blame me I did not vote' require annihilating.

How many have died in numerous countries to get the vote?

[YCCMB]

Frankly, I don't know about anyone else's area, but I'd venture to suggest that, round my way, the only thing which eclipsed voter apathy was candidate apathy.

By the day of the ballot, I had no idea who any of my candidates were, having received only two pieces of election literature (Tory and LibDem) at the last minute.

Oh, and we're about to move on after 22 years at this address, and not once during the entire period have I ever been doorstepped by a candidate of any hue.

I can see why the voters don't bother. If it matters that little to the candidates, why should it matter to the electorate.

[mint]

Count yourself lucky, Betty, that you actually got TWO pieces of paper!

We had to study the billboard outside our mairie for information of the candidates, nothing having come through the letterbox.  Not that easy actually to read all the small print and remember which initials stand for which party, the pictures themselves having been variously decorated with the usual moustaches, blackened front teeth, etc.

And how about when you have to pick up the leaflet with your chosen candidate in front of at least half a dozen pairs of eyes only to then go behind the curtain and "secretly" stuff it into the envelope [:D]?

Being determined not to broadcast my preference to all of the onlookers, I helped myself to several leaflets and stuffed the rejected ones into my coat pocket.  Just as well it was raining and I had on a voluminous impé with very large pockets[:D]

[NickP]

Idun I agree that in the UK all those eligible should vote, I quite like the idea that it is compulsory, having said that; there should be a choice on the voting paper to register a No vote. I think that by showing the percentage of  No votes would be more telling than the present system of saying how many did vote. It might just wake up the political candidates who seem at the minute; or did till last week, that they just have to put their name down and they will get in. Make them work for votes! Along with my electoral reforms I would also ban anybody standing for office unless they had completed 10 years working at a real job, not just spending time as a researcher for other politicians.

 As for the French system; it appears so complicated I don't think anybody can change it and  never will, but then maybe that is what they want.

Just another thought, why not instead of a No vote; allow the electorate to write in why they are not voting for the candidates on the paper, and make the candidates read the comments? before anybody says to read all those comments would take to long, MP's get plenty of holidays. [:D]

[woolybanana]

The current system in France for European elections is first past the post which may be what has caused the success of the FN because for national and local elections the French have a two vote system whereby there is a second tour if no candidate has over 50%. Thus, the highest number of votes triumphed.

Traditionally, the French public have used this double voting system to vote warn their politicians that something is wrong, by voting differently in each round.

In my less than humble view the major parties have had the kick up the posterior that they needed both to sort out France and to redesign Europe.

The old version by which France saw Europe merely as an extension of itself and a milchcow has long been superceded by a German based Northern European model. The French just were too arrogant to notice or perhaps Mrs Merkel was too polite to tell them.

Which is why we see Hollande making asinine speeches to La Nation, the major politican parties running round like chickens with their heads chopped off and the French public quietly smug that they have given a good kicking to the distant and irrelevant politicians in Paris and Brussels.

There is much more fun to come guys. Bring on a split Socialist party, Fillon as UMP and centre candidate for president against Mr Valls, unless the latter has his throuat cut by his own party.

Interesting times.

[Rabbie]

As Nigel Farage said to the BBC yesterday the chief gain for UKIP was not increased influence in Brussels but increased influence on the major parties in the UK. The European Parliament is relatively unimportant compared to the Commission and the Council of Ministers. Hopefully the message has be received that there need to be changes in the EU if it is to survive. If these occur then perhaps the UK will remain a member

[nomoss]

[quote user="woolybanana"]The current system in France for European elections is first past the post which may be what has caused the success of the FN because ..................................[/quote]

I understand that France uses a system of proportional representation for EU elections

[url]http://www.elections2014.eu/en/in-the-member-states/France/electoral-law[/url]

When voting is for a list of candidates I don't think it would be possible for any individual candidate to gain more than 50%, or are you saying that the whole list of a particular party is elected if that party gets over 50%?

[woolybanana]

Two points:

Changing the mindset of Brussels is by no means going to be easy as they have been on a single track towards a European superstate for 50 odd years,

And, what is quite fun, is that many of the run-down, eat at the trough of Europe, mediocre, has-been politicians that have traditionally been kicked upstairs to Brussels will now have to get JOBS, which will no doubt cause a string of heart attacks as their gravy train leaves the station without them, or is too wide to stop at their station!! Yippppeeeee.

[woolybanana]

nomoss, it is proportional of course which favours the NF but has only one round not two, which makes a big difference IMHO.

There may be a case for proportional in national elections in France but that would also favour the loony left and right; the NF got 6 million votes ( I think) at the last general election but only two seats.

[idun]

 SWEET17

When you vote in France you should NEVER take just the paper for the person you want to vote for into the booth. YOU take one of each voting paper  with you and then you put the one you want into the envelope. And then stick the rest in your pocket or bag. That is unless there have been loads of voting slips left in the booth, then mix your spares in with them.

Personally I always took mine with me.

And thinking about it, I don't see how they could legally stop you taking a copy of each into the booth, as one could say that the decision would be made behind that curtain.

[woolybanana]

(Deviation: idun, did you get my message on you email? This c*rappy system is a nightmare sometimes.)

[idun]

I believe that voting is obligatory in Australia, I wonder if it works there, I hope it does?

Lets face it, even if we forced people to vote they could just scribble across the form, they don't actually have to have a valid vote.

I have always said that I was anti EU and still am. I voted against the vote for the UK to enter in the 1970's, even though they were saying that it was just a trading area or some such thing at the time, but even then it wasn't and could be seen to be 'more' than that.

I am for a european trading area, simply just that. And as I mentioned in perhaps another thread, most of the new rules in the EU are at the instigation of France. The petty rules that seem so loved by the french having infiltrated and other countries.

And Hollande's speech, I could have spit, 'we gave the word the droit de l'homme', yup you did. Homme not Femme  as you gave women the vote after WW11. It was 1965 before married women could work without the permission of their spouse. Yeah, you have been exemplary in human rights LBF. There is next to nothing that France has given the world  that I  want in my own life, a couple of things, but that is IT!

And that gravy train stopping and all passengers left nulle part would be wonderful[6]

[idun]

 No wooly I didn't. Could you PM me please.

[nomoss]

[quote user="idun"]I believe that voting is obligatory in Australia, I wonder if it works there, I hope it does?

[/quote]

Yes, it works, this is a sample of what they get

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBvryavwV0w[/url]

[Frederick]

Regardless of who won I noticed the postal system of voting in the UK came in for more abuse .. Once more the elderly for whom it was supposed to assist when it came to voting  . In certain areas ......had the forms taken from them on their doorsteps  by members of their community  for posting after they had placed their vote as instructed . I think postal voting should be done away with....unless a way is found to put a fingerprint on it . !

[chrishead]

"There is next to nothing that France has given the world  that I  want in my own life"...hmmm, so why do you post on a forum that is supposedly for Francophiles Idun???

[idun]

I said, 'next to nothing', I didn't say nothing.

And I didn't realise that I had to put big blinkers on and then add to ensemble, some weird shaped rose coloured specs to post on here, but I never have and never will.

I am so glad that the board is not like that anymore.

You and I obviously have different memories. I remember it being a guillotine offence to say anything that was not gushing about France and I am glad that that is over.