Finally, Germany Is Talking About Deutschland EU Exit - Dexit 22:57 Apr 21 0 comments The EU in 2019 – the Problem of Survival 18:42 Jan 11 0 comments The publication of a damning report on Ireland’s public services was delayed by EU until after polls... 06:50 Feb 27 2 comments People's News - No. 139 7th Feb 2016 22:58 Feb 10 0 comments Peoples News issue No. 110 Date: 21 – 9 – 14 22:01 Oct 01 1 comments more >>Blog Feeds
Anti-EmpireThe Wholesome Photo of the Month Thu May 09, 2024 11:01 | Anti-Empire In 3 War Years Russia Will Have Spent $3... Thu May 09, 2024 02:17 | Anti-Empire UK Sending Missiles to Be Fired Into Rus... Tue May 07, 2024 14:17 | Marko Marjanović US Gives Weapons to Taiwan for Free, The... Fri May 03, 2024 03:55 | Anti-Empire Russia Has 17 Percent More Defense Jobs ... Tue Apr 30, 2024 11:56 | Marko Marjanović
The SakerA bird's eye view of the vineyard
Alternative Copy of thesaker.is site is available Thu May 25, 2023 14:38 | Ice-Saker-V6bKu3nz
The Saker blog is now frozen Tue Feb 28, 2023 23:55 | The Saker
What do you make of the Russia and China Partnership? Tue Feb 28, 2023 16:26 | The Saker
Moveable Feast Cafe 2023/02/27 ? Open Thread Mon Feb 27, 2023 19:00 | cafe-uploader
The stage is set for Hybrid World War III Mon Feb 27, 2023 15:50 | The Saker
Public InquiryInterested in maladministration. Estd. 2005RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail supporter? Anthony Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony Waiting for SIPO Anthony
Voltaire NetworkVoltaire, international editionNetanyahu soon to appear before the US Congress? It will be decisive for the suc... Thu Jul 04, 2024 04:44 | en Voltaire, International Newsletter N°93 Fri Jun 28, 2024 14:49 | en Will Israel succeed in attacking Lebanon and pushing the United States to nuke I... Fri Jun 28, 2024 14:40 | en Will Netanyahu launch tactical nuclear bombs (sic) against Hezbollah, with US su... Thu Jun 27, 2024 12:09 | en Will Israel provoke a cataclysm?, by Thierry Meyssan Tue Jun 25, 2024 06:59 | en |
Cap Euro election spending at 20k for more debate, less waste - Dubsky
national |
eu |
press release
Tuesday June 08, 2004 14:47 by Eoin Dubsky
Peace campaigner and independent MEP candidate for Leinster, Eoin Dubsky, today called for a EUR 20,000 cap on campaign spending for the European elections, to encourage meaningful debate and reduce pollution caused by plastic "corriboard" election posters. "There is no legal limit on campaign spending for the European elections, and consequently the wealthy candidates and parties can afford to manage their public image, avoiding media engagements where they may have to defend their policies and explain what they will do. The much-hyped quarrels between candidates and political parties with almost indistinguishable track records on health, education, foreign policy, and the environment smack of spin doctoring. Independent candidates, and polical parties unable and unwilling to spend their money putting image above substance hardly get a word in edgeways. |
View Comments Titles Only
save preference
Comments (5 of 5)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5why not 5,000
Because MEP's can neither be mandated or recalled any discussion about making the election of them more democratic (or even issue based) is a bit meaningless. The reason that it looks like a horse race is because it is a horse race.
Promises made at election time are meaningless as once elected the winner can do what they like so many of then don't even bother putting forward promises to break in the first place. They know the electorate knows they can't be held to these promises and that the whole thing is little more that a Eurovision with a more complete voting system and a bigger prize fund.
Some bodies do have elected delegates rather than representative that carry a mandate and can be recalled. Students Unions are often structured in this way and in at least some of them they deal with this spending issue by having the union print the exact same number of election manifestos and posters for each of the candidates for a token contribution.
The Irish Times website (ireland.com) sent out some questions to every MEP candidate to answer for their website. At the link below you can read what I wrote.
their voting record
http://www.ep-reform.net/reformindex.php
interesting
Check out the Joe Higgins linkhttp://www.ireland.com/focus/euroelection2004/candidates_higginsjoe.html