Having been personally (in fact, physically) chastised by a senior member of the Scottish Government this week for negativity during #fmq, today I’m all sunshine and light. Below are two contributions to the weekly feast of motions we believe are worthy of commendation, and nothing worth wasting a Better Nation #wmotw booby prize upon.
First up is Kenny Gibson’s staunch defence of the democratic principle, using the bankers’ coups in Greece and Italy as the basis, but allied to a more local democratic deficit. The second is technically an amendment, but in practice Jim Hume is doing here what oppositions should do: holding the Government to account. Bravo gents!
S4M-01381 Kenneth Gibson (Scottish National Party)
That the Parliament notes with concern the accession to power of new so-called technocratic governments in Italy and Greece; believes that this is an affront to democracy, akin to the UK Government having unelected members of the House of Lords serving as ministers; considers that many fledgling democracies will look with alacrity at what has happened; believes that countries should be run by people who are democratically elected, and urges a return to what it considers democratic control in Greece and Italy as soon as possible.
Motion S4M-01346.1 – Jim Hume (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
As an amendment to motion S4M-01346 in the name of Alex Johnstone (Housing), leave out from “notes†to end and insert “recalls that the SNP manifesto commitment was “to build over 6,000 new socially-rented houses each year”; notes that, since the election, ministers have referred to a target of 6,000 affordable homes rather than to the manifesto pledge and believes that the Scottish Government must clarify whether this manifesto commitment has now been replaced with a different, weaker commitment, which relies on people on low incomes being able to secure a mortgage; further notes that the Scottish Government has announced a 25% cut in the budget available to registered social landlords for housing adaptations despite adaptations being shown to generate significant health and social care savings; considers that such a substantial cut to the housing adaptations budget contradicts the Scottish Government’s commitment to preventative spending, and believes that adaptations have a key part to play in the drive to prevent health and care problems and enable older and disabled people to live independently in their own homes.â€
#1 by Ken on November 18, 2011 - 4:49 pm
“and urges a return to what it considers democratic control in Greece and Italy as soon as possible.”
Sorry, what?
In Italy the former Prime Minister lost his majority in the house. After stepping aside, and instead of calling new elections (which they are entirely entitled to do), democratically elected President Napolitano asked Senator Monti to lead a new government. He then talked to the political parties (the democratically elected representatives of the people), who agreed to back his proposals. This new government has passed two “no confidence” motions from the Italian parliament (Lower and Upper Houses). Non elected members of a governing cabinet were appointed by this leader – something done in other democratic countries (US for example)
Similarly, in Greece, Prime Minister Papandreou met with the leader of the opposition Antonis Samaras to try and form a new govt after Papandreou barely survived his own ‘no confidence’ vote. In the discussions, he agreed to step aside, and a grand coalition was formed out of the political parties in the negotiations that didn’t walk out (who by the way comprised only 10% of the 300 seats). This coalition (again, the democratically elected representatives of the people) appointed the Prime Minister.
Saying it’s undemocratic because it doesn’t adhere to principles more in line with ‘direct democracy’ or there aren’t general elections everytime a Prime Minister changes is laughable. While one may disagree with the markets unduly influencing these PM’s being pushed before they jumped, it wilfully ignores the multiple steps along the way that are completely democratic – it’s call Representative Democracy.
#2 by Indy on November 18, 2011 - 5:53 pm
I agree with Kenny that countries really ought to be run by people who have been elected, not appointed. It’s not really the same as saying there ought to be an election every time the Prime Minister changes. All UK Prime Ministers in recent history have been elected. Fair enough Italy has a different system and it’s not for us to judge how other countries run their affairs generally speaking. But as I understand it there is not a single elected member in Italy’s new government. Most people will find that staggering.
But I am slightly concerned at the phrase “considers that many fledgling democracies will look with alacrity at what has happened”. I hope that doesn’t actually mean what it says and he’s just used the wrong word.
#3 by James on November 18, 2011 - 5:59 pm
Alacrity is definitely not what was meant!
#4 by Jeff on November 18, 2011 - 6:02 pm
Alacrity
Crikey, you have a point there Indy ‘dictionary corner’. Did he just mean ‘alarm’?
#5 by Ben Achie on November 18, 2011 - 6:01 pm
Not sure what Kenny means by “alacrity”?
#6 by Barbarian on November 18, 2011 - 7:41 pm
Panic?