Referendum in Greece. Like discomfort...

Greek Prime Minister Papandreou's announcement to submit certain European issues to a referendum (a measure now suspended) sparked a volley of green wood from several European officials – Nicolas Sarkozy, Angela Merkel in the lead – but also from several commentators. With a single leitmotif: it's madness. Admittedly, we can say that this initiative could have been a little more concerted at European level. And that it is dangerous political conduct. But it is politically justifiable. Papandreou has a very short majority, from Pasok, which crumbles as time goes by. Until now, the opposition has not really played the Union Nationale, shamelessly criticizing the measures taken by the government. And the population which underwent, in a few months, a whole series of reforms, of reduction of the incomes which until now largely supported the reforms. It seemed logical from an internal point of view to provoke an electric shock allowing to obtain the consent of a large part of the political class and a certain support of the population.

Europe is afraid of its people

It is remarkable that the irruption of democracy in the European debate is shocking. However, what is shocking today is the absence of democracy in all measures. Apart from the consultation of the Bundestag, imposed by Angela Merkel on her European partners (not without difficulty and criticism), no parliament has been consulted on the measures decided at the last summits of 23-26 October. Not even the European Parliament, which was only just kept informed of the results of the summit. As if the community structures, the governments of the member states were afraid of its people. Admittedly, the budgetary and economic crisis makes it necessary to take measures quickly. But these are essential elements of everyday life, not "technical" problems. And, for the three years that this crisis has lasted, and repeated summits have taken place which often only manage to release bits of measures, often one or two crises late, we cannot say that the functioning of democracy parliamentary or participatory democracy would be too much.

Today, the various austerity measures hit first and foremost the population, and secondarily investments for the future. Democracy must be able to work. Europe can no longer function without democratic consultation and the consent of its population.