Lisbon Treaty 2008 -2009

Why did Irish voters reject the Lisbon Treaty?

This shouldl explain in my theory why Irish people rejected the Lisbon treaty on the 12th of June 2008.

In 2008, Ireland was the only nation authorized to vote on the Lisbon Treaty. Four million people voted on behalf of the other 490 million Europeans. This exceptional circumstance has arisen because a Kilkenny farmer Raymond Crotty legally challenged the Irish government in the late eighties over its conduct of the Single European Act. Raymond Crotty’s victory ensured that succeeding Irish governments have to hold referendum on comparable treaties.

In my opinion there is no exact single cause in why this treaty was rejected. The Treaty was rejected for many reasons pending on ones individual demographic circumstances and opinions.

Solidarity for French and Dutch rejection to a similar amendment Treaty may have been a contributor for the Irish Rejection. Their punishment is to be deprived of a right to vote on the Lisbon Treaty.

As Bertie Ahern said, "Thankfully, they have not changed the substance… 90 per cent is still there."Irish voters have been given a unique opportunity to give their opinion on the future of the EU. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, EU Observer, Brussels, 22 October 2007

I think it’s a bit upsetting… to see so many countries running away from giving their people an opportunity”, Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said on Sunday 21 October, according to the Irish Independent. ‘If you believe in something …why not let your people have a say in it. I think the Irish people should take the opportunity to show the rest of Europe that they believe in the cause, and perhaps others shouldn’t be so afraid of it,’ he added. “
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, EU Observer, Brussels, 22 October 2007

The European Treaty is simply old constitution re-born’ says creator Giscard D’Estaing’ Daily Telegraph 17 July 2007

Some observers presume that the French and Dutch vote arose from a lack of understanding and poor education. Seventy percent of the registered French population voted on the amendment. Campaigners concentrated teaching people who attended meetings organised by both pro-and anti European constitution campaigners. It appeared that the more people who read it, the less enthusiastic they were to vote in favour of the Treaty.

Irish people who read and understand the Lisbon Treaty may have voted against the treaty as the new treaty eradicates all future constitutional referendums, instead it will be decided by the elite power in Brussels.

The Irish may also have voted against the Lisbon Treaty hoping that a better more constitutional draft can replace the less democratic Lisbon Treaty.

The rejection of the EU constitution in France - and in Holland somewhat more ambiguously -came from the left. A poll published in Le Monde showed that 55 percent of No voters were supporters of left parties while 19.5 percent were supporters of the far right politician, Len Pen. The main opponents of the constitution were anti-globalisation campaigners like ATTAC, public sector unions and left wing political parties. According to Susan George, a leading No campaigner, ‘It was, of course, a class vote with the only socio-economic group registering a majority “Yes” vote being company managers and directors’. S. George, ‘France’s “Non” marks just the beginning of our campaign’ Europe’s World Autumn 2005 pp. 49-53

The Loss of a fulltime Irish commissioner in the European parliament may alarm the voice of the Irish people.

Other more serious consequences include a non democratic election of a single European Government unelected by the people of Europe, this may have been seen as unfair and undemocratic for a socialist union we call Europe. This means a European Government elected by parliament and not by the people.

As an example; it would be like saying that the senate of the United Stated elects the President every four years rather than the American people. Would this be seen as democratically fair in the United States?

Some of the Irish voters have voted no as they feel this election has been forced upon them, and forcing them to vote in favor of the Lisbon Treaty due to pressure from the political parties, media stream and our obligation to repay Europe. Other threats included the decline in economic success if we voted no parallel to Ireland being disliked by Europe.

All parties expect Sinn Féin have supported the Lisbon Treaty. Other nongovernmental campaigners such as Declan Ganley’s libertas parallel to the People Before Profit Alliance have rejected this treaty.

In the spotlight is the lack of information provided to the Irish public regarding the Lisbon Treaty. The proposal of any constitutional amendment should be adequately educated to the public which did not happen. A consolidated version of the Lisbon Treaty and effected changes should have been delivered to each voter for their judgment, and their judgment only.

‘’After the original constitution was rejected by the French and Dutch Voters, the EU leaders called for a period of reflection. But behind the scenes, they encouraged an unofficial group to work on a new draft known as the Amato group, after the former Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato, this was composed of 16 ‘wise men’ who were drawn from the European political elite. The group were joined by two serving EU commissioners but they kept their transactions with the Amato group a secret.

The Amato group developed a crude stratagem Instead of clearly outlining their proposals, they wrapped the new version of the constitution in vast layers of complexity to discourage the population from scrutinising it. But they let slip what they were doing. One of the key participants of the Amato group Jean Dehaene, a former Prime Minister of Belgium, told Le Soir newspaper that it was ‘dangerous talk to want too much transparency and clarity’. Giuliano Amato, the convenor of the group, hailed the way the Lisbon Treaty had been given an ‘unreadable’ new form, full of cross-references and protocols. According to the Economist, he told a meeting in London, that this was done.’’
‘For your eyes only’ Economist 9 August 2007

The Lisbon Treaty contains no references to EU flags or symbols and thus removes some of the accessories associated with a constitution. But the vast majority of the rejected EU constitution re-appears under a new appearance.