The Irish Have Shown True Civic Spirit!
A victory for direct democracy

by Dr Eva-Maria Föllmer, Zurich

We sincerely congratulate the citizens of Ireland
on the result of their vote!

Despite the Irish government’s prophecies of doom and the efforts on the part of a broad spectrum of the media to hush-up and play-down the importance of the Irish referendum, the citizens of Ireland have clearly rejected the prospect of an EU dictatorship: a majority of 54% voted ‘No’ to the Nice treaties. This came as an unexpected surprise to the EU elite, which reacted to the vote’s results by either issuing public statements of ‘disappointment’, by scolding the Irish for their lack of obedience in the old Soviet manner, or by simply ignoring it. Pro memoria: The majority of the international media either kept quiet or played down the importance of the Irish referendum (by order of Brussels?). And the date of the vote was made public just four weeks before it was to take place. Moreover, the effort was made to exert pressure on the Irish citizens into accepting the treaties with the argument that a rejection would otherwise deny EU candidates the ‘benefits’ of membership.

No is No!

This clear rejection of the EU is a victory for direct democracy. In view of the fact that the government and the media did not fulfil their obligation to inform the public adequately and that a public discussion was to be avoided at all costs, the citizens of Ireland have begun to take their fate into their own hands. Many citizens informed themselves about the content and significance as well as the truth behind the Nice treaties in self-produced information brochures, websites and in discussion with other citizens at the numerous, and often spontaneous meetings that took place.

The Irish vote is particularly encouraging to the citizens of Germany and France, where they are not going to be asked about the treaties and where the political elite commented on the Irish referendum in an exceedingly arrogant and anti-democratic manner. Instead, the treaties will be ‘formally’ ratified in the countries’ respective parliaments, where one would rather flout the will of one’s own people than cause the Americans–who have already complained about Europe being so difficult and stubborn–from having too much additional headache.

More self-confident about our neutrality

After the clear Swiss rejection of EU-membership, the recent Austrian success for a referendum initiative to carry out a re-vote on the EU under fair conditions, as well as the clear Danish rejection of the Euro, this additional rejection of the treaties is a further encouraging and empowering sign to those countries who are fighting to maintain their sovereignty and neutrality. As a consequence, Ireland fits well into the community of neutral states whose citizens are becoming more conscious of the role they play in creating and maintaining peace in the world. An Irish citizen said: ‘I voted “No” because I’m afraid that they want to introduce military involvement through the back door. I believe we should be more self-confident about our neutrality.’

The result is also encouraging and empowering to the citizens of other countries, whose resistance to the EU dictatorship in Brussels is growing from day to day. It will also help them demand that the countries’ own issues and Europe’s future be discussed more openly and honestly.