EU bigwigs are men with a plan – and they’re not about to let pesky democracy get in the way. While they mostly seem pleasant enough, here are some times the mask has slipped:
1) Euro parliament president: Referendums for “mentally weak”, “like Nazis”
When the Irish rejected the Lisbon treaty in 2008, Martin Schulz, now president of the European Parliament, said that those who doubt the EU are “mentally weak”.
For good measure he compared those with the temerity to demand a referendum at all to “Hitler and the Nazis in the Reichstag.”
2) Former Commission President: Democracy “often wrong”
Former EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso isn’t very keen on people who like to vote either.
In October 2010, the one-time Prime Minister of Portugal said: “Decisions taken by the most democratic institutions in the world are very often wrong.”
Made a little pic of a Barroso quote I think deserves some exposure. Please do share. pic.twitter.com/CzcKAj3Bxv
— Madeline Grant (@Madz_Grant) June 21, 2016
3) Former European Council President: No public support? Do it anyway
The first boss of the (unelected) European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, was open about his dream to expand the EU to “the whole of European territory outside Russia”.
When an interview for the German De Standaard newspaper pointed out that people might not like that, Van Rompuy was not overly concerned. He said he didn’t know how the people of Europe might feel, adding: “But we do it anyway.”
4) Schulz again: Britain belongs to us
Schulz, not one to change tack in the face of trouble, used a public appearance to insist in 2015 that the UK does not have “a relationship” with the EU, but instead “belongs to” it.
Refusing to use the term “UK relationship”, he said: “You cannot have a relationship with yourself. The EU is and Britain are one thing. The UK belongs to the EU.”
@Migs_Bru There is an alternative to Europe and it's going back to Nation States. Is that your idea?
— Martin Schulz (@MartinSchulz) July 5, 2013
5) President of the European Commission: Prime Ministers listen to voters too much
The current top Eurocrat, former Luxembourg PM Jean-Claude Juncker, has made clear that he is annoyed by national leaders always putting their people first.
At a debate this May, he said: “Too many politicians are listening exclusively to their national opinion. And if you are listening to your national opinion you are not developing what should be a common European sense and a feeling of the need to put together efforts.”
He has also pushed relentlessly for an EU army, despite even dedicated Europhiles being aghast at the prospect:
In the very long run, we will need a European army. Because we have to be credible when it comes to foreign policy #wahlarena #withJuncker
— Jean-Claude Juncker (@JunckerEU) May 20, 2014
6) Trade Commissioner: I don’t take my mandate from the European People
Cecilia Malmström, the EU trade commission who seals all our deals with other nations, is another one untroubled by thoughts of popular disapproval.
According to the Independent, in an unguarded moment discussing the TTIP trade deal with the US, she blithely said: “I do not take my mandate from the European people”.
Vote Leave to wipe the smirk off their faces…
