|
|
. |
|||||||
|
EUCDW, 24.04.2002 Elections in France : a warning to established parties Control mechanisms are vital to a stable democracy
According to the judgement of the European Union of Christian Democratic Workers (EUCDW), the election results of the first round of presidential elections reveal not so much the strength of parties on the extreme right or extreme left, but rather the weakness of established parties. Even though the results of the second round and those of the later parliamentary elections are expected to reaffirm the position of established parties, this should not be a cause for their complacency. Especially in uncertain times, they must not convey ideology and policy exclusively via polemics and slogans ; it's necessary to allay fears and prejudices (the feeding ground for right and left wing extremism) with a policy of concrete fact-based decision-making (for instance concerning internal security). The economic upheaval transpiring in the face of globalization and continuing automation demands that particular attention be given to internal social harmony. Balance must be sought between a (greater) individual responsibility and the necessary solidarity of all citizens; between the responsibility of each single member state/region and the necessary competence of the EU. Especially within the field of social and employment policy, which has a direct bearing on citizens, one can clearly distinguish whether the established parties are striving towards the establishment of concrete solutions or that of ideologies. Democracy is the
only form of government that allows its own enemies to solicit political
power. This however, does not mean that a democracy cannot defend itself.
Appropriate controls must be used to ensure that democratic processes
such as voting procedure, the safeguarding of party diversity and diversity
of political opinion, the separation of bodies of state power and control
of the media, are abided by. The EUCDW is convinced that extremist parties, which only exist due to fear and panic-making, can represent no real threat to stable democratic states.
The
European Union of Christian Democratic Workers (EUCDW) consists of 23
workers' organisations from 15 countries and is an association of the
European People's Party (EPP).
|
. |
|||||||
. |
. |
