Ireland and the Vote on the Nice Treaty

'I don't know whether to vote yes or no - I don't understand it'

Ireland needs more direct democracy

by Eva-Maria Föllmer, Dublin

Last year the Irish voted against the Nice Treaty. But elites in Ireland and the EU were not willing to accept the outcome of the vote. Thus another vote was imposed upon the Irish people. Having launched a huge propaganda campaign, the EU is now triumphant. 1.6 million Euro (six times more than what was given to the opponents of the Treaty) was available from funds. (Where did this money come from?) Countries in favour of EU enlargement were busy ferrying their foreign ministers to the Emerald Isle, and a book was produced containing all the empty talk of these foreign ministers.

As part of their campaign the government tried to make out the people who had not voted last year in order to bring them round. The well-known top-down strategies and various means of propaganda helped to get the different organisations to vote Yes, such as the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) or the County Donegal Inshore Fishermen Association.

At a meeting of the IFA in Donegal, which represents some 6,000 farmers in Donegal, the approximately 150 participants were all provided with Yes-stickers (their cows were provided with yellow EU buttons). A well-prepared EU spokesman painted a rosy picture of the Nice Treaty - without mentioning the No-sayers. On the Friday preceding the vote - once again, and not by mere coincidence - farmers were paid money, enticing them to vote Yes. Lies were told, enormous pressure was exerted. It was repeated again and again that Irish neutrality would not be affected. The Irish were even assured that in case of war, they would be asked if they wanted to participate or not. What they were not told is that 850 Irish troops are ready to join the EU Rapid Reaction Force. The Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, already granted the American president last year permission to use Irish airspace in the case of war, and he also gave landing permission for American warplanes. Thus, the prospects for Irish neutrality are bleak.

Moreover the 29 Irish bishops recommended the Yes-vote (to a population of 4.5 million). This has great significance for most Catholics, who make up 90% of the Irish population. The media conveyed the false impression that the Pope also supported the Yes-vote. This meant that if somebody was not in agreement with the treaty, he was more likely not to go to the ballots than to vote No.

The second referendum was justified by the argument that citizens had not been informed properly last time. This time they were not informed, either. It was above all citizens in rural regions that complained in the final two weeks: 'We do not know what the Nice Treaty is all about, we do not know.'

Given this situation, what the Irish now need is exactly the same as the citizens in other European countries, be it Germany, France, Poland, Britain, Italy, or elsewhere: we all need more genuine information, more direct and unbiased communication with one another, more direct democracy. This is what is needed to strengthen and rebuild our democracies - based on a cooperation among all citizens.