In Cyprus, all the political parties are trying their utmost to convince the public that it’s their “civic duty” to vote. It maybe so, but there is a minor problem: a vast swathe of the electorate no longer trust politicians or the European Union, but especially the Eurogroup that now governs Cyprus under the terms of Troika’s Mnimonio agreement signed by the Anastasiades government.
Apart from thousands of abstainers, those who decide to vote on May 25th are in a limbo; they are obliged to vote for a Komma (political party) first, and then a candidate from the same party. Where is the freedom of citizen’s right to decide for the best man or woman without Kommatokratia dictating the election process? Voters do not abstain without a reason or because they are lazy or they don’t care; they abstain because: (a) it’s their choice to do so and (b), they lost faith in a system that has betrayed them so bitterly. They demand radical changes and elections seem to fail them each time. Why should there be any different this time around?
Inevitably, from the 61 candidates running, six will be selected and be sent to Brussels to join the other 766 European Parliamentarians under the misguided notion that they are there to serve in the national interest. That’s utter fallacy and a misconception! The EU’s structure ensures there is no such option.
In fact those elected will actually be working for a non-democratic institution controlled by faceless bureaucrats and a Commission that makes decisions behind closed doors and without transparency or accountability. It seems that MEP candidates (some are even political party leaders) are prepared to abandon the democratic principles to join this group of inglorious politicians.
That’s what the EU is all about: a supranational corporation controlled by international bankers, big industrial interests and the European Central Bank – a New World Order based on a nepotistic system of appointments. As it happens, the European Parliament exists merely as a façade to legitimize and ‘democratize’ the EU’s existence. It has no powers to make or pass laws and unless the EU changes those rules, it will always remain a lame parliament.
Abstention is also not an option and citizens are in a dilemma; to vote it means accepting the continuation of the same old system, which people have come to detest. Actually, the electorate is trapped. They are asked to vote for the status quo; abstain or cast a “white” protest vote. Many will choose to abstain or the latter. If enough “white” votes are balloted to form a majority, it will certainly send a devastating blow to the EU. It will cause a political tsunami and trigger an issue of no confidence. That would be a radical political stand indeed – a silent one – but a revolutionary one, nevertheless!
Unfortunately, the present political system does NOT allow “disgruntled” or “protest” votes to be part of the election process. White or blank votes are simply ignored and discarded as rubble, even if they are a majority. Where is the cherished notion of “majority rule” in that? Direct democracy unfortunately does not exist but a failed democracy is alive and well in the chambers of power who want to keep it that way.
Cypriot candidates should be questioning whether Cyprus should opt out and renegotiate its entire EU membership to get a better deal; exit from the euro or stop deeper integration with this institution. It can still retain its EU trade and customs agreement and enjoy all trading privileges on offer without abandoning the right to govern the country.
The right to govern should then be transferred back to Cyprus, where it belongs, before politicians sign away the future of the island to foreign interests who care less about the welfare of the country and its people.
NOTE:
The following mind-boggling video exposes who really makes the decisions behind EU Directives, and it’s certainly not the European Parliament.
THE BRUSSELS BUSINESS
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