I've had a hard time understanding the numerous European-wide governing institutions. This article sheds some light on the subject by examining two such institutions--the European Parliament and the European Union Commission. I am quite amazed to find that Europeans are as foolish as are my fellow Americans when it comes to governing institutions. They are as easily duped by the never-ending "democratic" games played by capitalists.
Quijones writes about the increasing disaffection of European voters over their institutions, and seems optimistic about positive changes that may begin with the upcoming elections for the European Parliament scheduled from May 22 to the 25th. I'm not so sure about his optimism given his explanation of the powers of the Parliament. At the same time, I am amazed that such a pseudo-democratic institution was ever allowed to be established in Europe.
And, I thought Americans were stupid! Referring to Europeans as lab rats seems very apt in more than one way.Like a court eunuch, the Parliament was effectively neutered at birth. Put simply, its main mission in life is to give the wildly misleading impression that democracy actually exists in the EU. In reality, the Parliament cannot overrule the EU Commission nor can it even amend its budget on a line by line basis. Indeed, it cannot initiate legislation and it has no say whatsoever in foreign policy.The European Parliament has no power to even hold individual members of the Commission to account. At best, it can overturn the entire executive branch, which it has only done once in its lifetime – back in 1999 when, thanks to leaks by commission-insider Paul Van Boetenin, the Parliament learnt of the irregularities, fraud and mismanagement within the Commission.The real power in Brussels resides in the European Commission, the European Council of national leaders and the Eurogroup of Finance Ministers – three unelected institutions that are subject to virtually no democratic checks or balances.
