Vladimir
Rott, Democracy Europe, Czechia/Switzerland, vjrott.com > english > society & politics / links
Dear Dutch, dear Europeans! Free citizens!
Thank you all for giving me the opportunity to share with you my
thoughts and my experience.
Two questions, two answers, two experiences
Who of you, here today, has been asked by your government to
give your decision whether you government may begin negotiations with
the EU about the accession conditions?
Who of you has been asked by your government whether you wish
your country to join the EU?
- The answer to the first question is binding and, same as
the question, guaranteed by constitution. That is my Swiss experience.
- (I said "no", as the majority did. As a
Swiss, I am convinced that the EU in its present state is not worth
joining, and so that negotiating with it would be a waste.)
- The answer to the second question has been asked only after
the government has been sure that it will be a "yes". Not binding and
not guaranteed by any (decent, real) constitution or any (decent, real)
law. That is my Czech experience.
- (I said "yes", as the majority did. As a
Czech, I am convinced that any structure, even the EU one, is far more
better than the present post/communist clans still ruling and ruining
my first country as they please.)
My experience - to share
- My first experience in my life as citizen, as man, is that
of an unfree Czechoslovak, born into a post-world-war-ii totality. Into
a totalitarian regime keeping on going to kill people just for the
purpose of spreading terror. Spreading terror in order to keep in power
all those medieval-style clans, at that time calling themselves
communists.
- (In eager collaboration with all those
former nazi-collaborators...)
My second experience is that of a free - and a proud - Swiss.
A free - and proud citizen - of Europe.
My third experience is that of a yet to be freed Czech, with
no real rights, with rights yet to emerge. These yet to emerge rights
over there are those which most of you, here today, already enjoy as
obvious and granted. Most of you, here today, were born with these
rights. As most of you, here today, were born in that part of Europe,
which became free half a century before the eastern part took its path
to freedom. To freedom, democracy - and sovereignty.
My fourth experience is that of an emerging, almost free,
European. Free in principle, yet without all the rights I have as a
Swiss.
A proud Swiss citizen, enjoying rights, political rights, which all
citizens of Europe today should enjoy too. And will enjoy soon, I
believe. In my lifetime, I believe.
This is my dream, a dream I share with other Europeans - some
of them are also here with us today.
This is a dream we, and I, want to share today with you, and want to
share with you in your coming decision, in your first referendum.
My thoughts - to share and to exchange
As said, I also thank you for the opportunity to share my
thoughts with you - and to exchange our thoughts - on your coming
decision.
- Your, Dutch sovereign's decision on the "Treaty on EU
constitution". Your first sovereign decision in your first referendum.
- (The EU constitution - as all other
real constitutions and treaties, including the EU ones - should be put
under citizens' sovereignty.
And so, of course, also the Convention should be put under citizens'
sovereignty, and made permanent.)
To be frank - not a real referendum. But a first step to this
right, one of the citizens' rights in a modern democracy. First step -
and so a very important, truly historical, step.
Let me share with you my, Swiss, experience on what real
sovereignty, real democracy and real referendums are.
1. Sovereignty - real sovereignty
- comes from each one citizen, the sovereign
2. Democracy - real democracy
- comes from real sovereignty
- from each one citizen, the sovereign.
3. Referendums - real referendums
- come from real democracy and real sovereignty
- and are binding for citizens' representatives.
(In most, representative, democracies,
citizens pass their sovereignty on to their representatives - in the
elections, each couple (of couple) of years.
In advanced, direct, democracies citizens also execute their
sovereignty in initiatives and referendums - in executive and
legislative matters. Their decisions are binding and - same as their
rights - guaranteed by constitution.
See further e.g. admin.ch > english > Political rights (also in french,
german, italian, rumantsch), for an example on the federal level.)
Why such a paper, as the "Treaty"
is, would be rejected by the Swiss
In Switzerland, such a thing - in such a state as the "Treaty
on the EU constitution" is - would be rejected by the people. Should
anyone dare to present such a thing, in such a state, to them. The
reasons would be as follows.
The Swiss would feel, with full right, insulted by such a
"package" of so many, so various matters being presented to them for a
single "yes" or "no". The Swiss hate any cheat.
Next, the whole thing is non-democratic. The Swiss hate
anything lacking democracy.
And last, but not least, the miserable quality of the paper.
The Swiss hate anything lacking quality and/or consideration.
Moreover, there would be inquiries - with grave consequences
- into the workings of bodies and individuals, which dare to
misuse the funds (taxes) for spending the money on such a thing.
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