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The parliamentary expenses scandal in Britain has shaken our parliament to its foundations.
The question that’s been nagging me is what would happen if MEPs’ Brussels expenses claims saw the light of day? Would it tear the EU parliament apart? Or would anyone even be surprised?
It would surely completely discredit the parliament and our elected representatives sitting in it. MEPs’ expenses aren’t subject to any freedom of information laws and they must be getting away with murder. Their claims run to more than €100 million.
Libertas’ Declan Ganley certainly thinks it would be sensational:
“If you were surprised at the sleaze revelations that came out in the UK, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”
This stuff will inevitably come out in the end, won’t it? I really hope so.
(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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Could be.
Dublin MEP Proinsias de Rossa (Labour/PES) has put stuff up on his website, but it was extremely shocking when he revealed on TV3 that his expenses come to €300,000.
I know that it costs to be spread out over Dublin/Brussels/Strasbourg, but still…
Both the UK Parliament and the European Parliament have been lamentable in crafting sensible rules, monitoring compliance and in securing transparency.
But it is almost grotesque that Declan Ganley and Libertas cast themselves as white knights, considering the total lack of credible information about:
* the financing of the No campaign in Ireland
* internal party democracy
* financing of Libertas.eu and the assorted national chapters, campaigns and candidates
* the probity of their candidates
* the lack of a clear political programme (as opposed to populist rubbish)
* seemingly extremist, but contradictory policies among the individuals and groups sailing under the Libertas banner.
Honestly, no, I don’t think anyone would care. That sort of information is public here in Estonia, and it’s relegated to filler material for the tabloids on slow news days. One MP claimed two full tanks of gas that were bought minutes apart; another, the leader of the Green party, claims the leasing of a brand new big BMW.
I don’t think you’re really going to surprise anyone by the revelation that politicians are greedy. And unlike national parliaments, the EP is predominantly full of boring men in grey suits whose transgressions won’t even be particularly exciting.
@ Ralf
Those are all valid points, but I don’t think it’s a fair comparison. One is just a political party with its own funds from people who choose to support it. The other is an institution that is spending public money.
[...] Expenses. MEPs, surely it’s your turn next…. [...]
Those expenses could be responsible for the credit crisis we’re facing! Thanks for the article.