Photo: flickr
It’s been the biggest story in the UK for a week now, but what are they making of it in Europe?
That was the question posed by the Today programme this morning. As John Humphreys said, “British politicians have been fond of saying ‘We may not be perfect, but others are much WORSE.’”
The conversation showed the different kind of attitudes and political cultures that exist across Europe. This is what Sebastian Berger, of the German newspaper Rheinischer Merkur, had to say:
“I think it’s very interesting, when we said standards in Britain are supposed to be quite high, you said said, ‘oh really’. And yes, really. I tell you, they are high, and comparatively they are high … Don’t get me wrong, if you read that people are clearing their moats on taxpayers’ money and having their tennis courts repaired it is absolutely terribly damaging. People have lost all perspective clearly of what is money which they need to do their jobs and money which really they shouldn’t claim.”
And Patrizio Nissirio, of the Italian news agency Ansa:
“We have been covering it constantly since it broke out. The story has considerable interest because to be honest standards in British political life are considered very highly . In Italy they think there is a respect for rules.
“There is [a respect for rules in Italy] but the standards are completely different. I mean, we’re talking about inappropriate which happens maybe with MPs’ reimbursement - quote, unquote scandal - versus illegal. I would say that a lot of Italian politicians have done something illegal and they still get the votes and they still sit in parliament.”
Why is that? Why don’t they chuck them out?
“Because the country has a completely different sensibility towards those things. We have our very controversial Prime Minister. In a lot of other countries his conflict of interest would be enough to disqualify him. Not in Italy - he’s been elected a number of times and his approval rates are very high.”
It’s a very interesting point. According to Andrew Neil on This Week, Liberal Democrat Shirley Williams apparently said that “if Italy were today applying to join the European Union, it would not fulfil the criteria because the press and political system are not separate, they have passed all sorts of laws that stop you pursuing corruption among politicians.”
It’s fascinating to look at various political cultures in various countries. In my last post where I expressed the hope that MEPs’ expenses would see the light of day, Andrei Tuch said: “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.” Maybe in Britain our standards are just too high.
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading ...
The usual justification that others are worse. Quite sad.
In my humble opinion, the UK “system” is a mess, which has enticed MPs to make exorbitant claims.
These questions are always difficult with regard to how ordinary taxpayers are treated.
But to make a total mess out of it takes some sort of genius.
In comparison:
Finnish MPs get a comparatively low but adequate tax free flat rate monthly sum (less if they live in or near the capital).
Most of them skimp by renting quite modest accommodation in the capital, so in reality part of their salary is tax free and their standards of living higher than the official salary tells you.
But the system is clear, and there have been only a few marginal cases during the years, when someone has claimed a higher rate on the basis of a home farther away.
In principle, the home where the family lives is the residence which counts.
Conclusion: It is simple, it works and it is almost impossible to abuse.
When I voted yes for Austria joining the European Community in 1995 I thought the line of thinking was that all community members would strive to close up to the standards of the “better” countries.
Now I find myself in a European Union - with Barroso wanting to build an empire - where standards in so many issues, policies etc. are being downgraded to the level of the laggards.
Austrian MEP re-contender Hans-Peter Martin has been trying for years to get the EP to fully disclose expenses and all other costs. Only problem in reality was that his party’s #2, Karin Resetarits, ran into “difficulties” when somebody confronted her own expense accounts.
She did not make things better by saying it would be easier if every MEP would draw a monthly salary of €8,000. Her reason: You cannot live on less in Brussels. What a slap in the face of the average Brussels inhabitant.
Party politics and corruption are like the question what was first: The hen or the egg?