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What is the deputy I am voted for really doing in the European parliament? Two websites try to close this information gap. While Votewatch.eu is providing pure figure and datas, Parlorama.eu judges the MEP's activities. You can read more about this last project here.
After putting the cat among the pigeons in January 2009 with a doubtful architecture called "Entropa", created by Czech sculptor David Cerny by order of the Czech government, the European Presidency turned completely into a total loss. The Czechs affairs are not only impeding European policies, they are also turning the long time European friendly atmosphere back to euroscepticism. The ratification of the Lisbon Treaty is still not guaranteed. The European Parliament election will in that sense become trend-setting for the Republics position towards Europe.
Around 90 % voter turnout in Belgium in all elections of the European Parliament since 1979 - more than in any other European country. But the extraordniary result is not owed to the more democratic or more European attitude of the Belgians, but to the obligation of Belgian voters registered on the electoral roll. Is that democratic? It is, says Philippe Lamberts, belgian candidate for Ecolo, member of the European Green Party, and their co-spokesperson: “I can’t understand the problem with obligatory voting. If you register, then this indicates you want to vote. Registry is free. The obligatory vote is more democratic than the non-compulsory vote. It’s not too much to ask a citizen to exercise their democratic responsibility once in a while. I believe that living in a society entails rights as well as obligations, or responsibilities”.
This blog is launched by the successful german online magazine E-POLITIK.DE to address the upcoming EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS, held between 4th and 7th June 2009 in 27 member states of the European Union. We give an overview of current politics and events, parties and party programs as well as regional pecularities concerning European Union politics and this year elections. We do not try to convince you of the necessity and importance of your individual vote, but to sensibilise you for persons, structures and processes affecting you and your life. After all any power of persuasion is of less importance and you hopefully have own intended reasons to participate in european politics.