Unelected Jean-Claude Juncker nominated as next head of EU Commission

[Chippiewill]

I'm pretty certain no one voted for David Cameron to be elected Prime Minister, he was 'nominated' by the the commons.

[Kardan]

I'm sure you could say something similar about the Lib Dems coming in 3rd and being half in charge

[-:Undertaker:-]

I'm pretty certain no one voted for David Cameron to be elected Prime Minister, he was 'nominated' by the the commons.

I'm sure you could say something similar about the Lib Dems coming in 3rd and being half in charge

Both the Conservatives and the Liberals Democrats formed a government from the floor of the House of Commons in which they were all elected to. That's a real parliamentary democracy. The European parliament on the other hand isn't a democracy for the reason that although the parliament is elected by public, the European Commission is simply appointed by the parliament/heads of state rather than the parliament forming the government from the floor of the elected chamber. There is also the other distinction that the European Commission is the executive that proposes legislation and makes law, whereas the parliament only has the power to say yes or not: a rubber stamping body, in other words. These key differences are what led Margaret Thatcher to always refuse to call it a parliament, and instead she called it an assembly.

In any case, the EU parliament can never be a democracy anyway for the reason that Europe doesn't have a demos.

- - - Updated - - -

It's ok if you can't grasp the idea of representative democracy.

So why not just abolish Westminster and have elected Local councils appoint the British government on our (lol) behalf?

[The Don]

So why not just abolish Westminster and have elected Local councils appoint the British government on our (lol) behalf?

Why would we do that? You seem to think that because i'm pointing out that representatives electing somebody makes that person elected, and that you're wrong for calling them unelected, means I think that system is superior or without fault. You've done once again what you do to everyone and have put words into my mouth.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Why would we do that? You seem to think that because i'm pointing out that representatives electing somebody makes that person elected, and that you're wrong for calling them unelected, means I think that system is superior or without fault. You've done once again what you do to everyone and have put words into my mouth.

So there is or isn't a democratic deficit in the EU?

[The Don]

So there is or isn't a democratic deficit in the EU?

Has Juncker been elected, yes or no?

[-:Undertaker:-]

Has Juncker been elected, yes or no?

Well as a democracy requires a demos to function, which Europe hasn't got, he's no more elected than the Iraqi Prime Minister is.

But in a simple definition of democracy, no he hasn't. He's been appointed by national leaders behind closed doors.

[Chippiewill]

Well as a democracy requires a demos to function, which Europe hasn't got, he's no more elected than the Iraqi Prime Minister is.

democracy
dɪˈmɒkrəsi/Submit
noun
a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.

I seem to recall lots of people being democratically elected to the Parliament. I also seem to recall member states democratically electing representatives for the Council (Among other things). And I also seem to recall democratically elected governments in member states appointing representatives to the commission, and now also providing an option to the democratically elected parliament to vote for the president of the commission.

[-:Undertaker:-]

democracy
dɪˈmɒkrəsi/Submit
noun
a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.

I seem to recall lots of people being democratically elected to the Parliament. I also seem to recall member states democratically electing representatives for the Council (Among other things). And I also seem to recall democratically elected governments in member states appointing representatives to the commission, and now also providing an option to the democratically elected parliament to vote for the president of the commission.

And a system which requires a demos (a people in Greek) to function. Otherwise it doesn't.

For example, you could not have a functioning democracy between a unified Britain and Saudi Arabia as you lack demos (a people).

[Chippiewill]

And a system which requires a demos (a people in Greek) to function. Otherwise it doesn't.

europeans.