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This year, let’s bring back parliamentary democracy!|Laura Harth

蘋果日報 2021/01/04 09:49


The past year has been one of many frustrations, not only because too much of which was spent locked in our homes due to the raging global pandemic, but mostly as time and time again we encountered the many limits of our common struggle for freedom and democracy. A deep frustration compounded by the enormous heartbreak at every new arrest, forced exile and imposition of yet more draconian measures in Hong Kong.
The countless righteous cries for help are haunting, as the dire spectre of authoritarianism sets in over your homes, your families, your friends, yourselves. So, while we start this new year with the solemn promise to continue tirelessly to promote the cause of Hong Kong and all those suffering at the cruel hands of the Chinese communist dictatorship, one cannot but take a step back and take stock of the question so many of you have asked time and time again: why is the democratic world not taking more decisive action?
And although there is no one simple answer to that question, I believe part - if not a big part - of the answer lies in the weakening of our Parliamentary democracies. It might come as a surprise to many of you standing up for democracy in Hong Kong, if you were to see how much of the recent debate on the people’s representatives within many continental European countries has been set around a narrative of proclaimed incompetency, plain profiteering and utter redundancy.
At a time when terms of managerial efficiency set the tone for the direction of society, long and profound debates among different factions of society within our Parliaments or city halls do not correspond to such a standard. MPs and local councillors are reduced to mere “seatholders” whose cost to society is questioned over and over again.
Never have we seen this more clearly than during the past year of Covid-19. All over the EU, as technical committees sprung up like mushrooms and Governments assumed emergency powers, Parliaments were treated as mere ex-post ratifiers of decisions taken elsewhere. Decisions that have had enormously far-reaching effects into the personal lives of each and every citizen, often in contrast with the most basic of freedoms enshrined in our Constitutions and multilateral human rights charters.
What we have witnessed represents, in my view, an extremely dangerous acceleration in a process developing over the past decades. The centralization of power, the assumption of legislative prowess by bodies other than those elected, and the ensuing break-down of the wall dividing governmental powers under the rule of law are a slippery slope. One the people from Hong Kong know all too well: when democracy and Parliaments are reduced to mere obeying formalities, the road from the rule of law to the rule by law is paved.
And as we set foot on that road, as Parliamentary powers here are hollowed out, the range of positive action for freedom and democracy around the world diminishes at raging speed. Your question, your frustration is shared not only by activists, but by numerous Members of Parliament that share your dread and heartbreak. The countless representatives of the people who across Europe have acted, written, adopted and promoted resolutions to induce our governments to act. But too often to no avail as governments simply “take notice” and pursue their path of engagement with your oppressor as they are not bound by foreign policy directions given by Parliament.
The political deal struck last week between the EU and China on a Comprehensive Agreement on Investment was a hellish example of just such a snub by executive powers to the European Parliament. The timing of acceleration in negotiations, not only during the Christmas Holidays but starting the very afternoon an overwhelming majority in the EP adopted a resolution with clear-cut directions on what they would accept, was striking though - unfortunately - not surprising. A victory lap for Xi Jinping at the worst possible of times as a growing number of European citizens and their elected representatives are clearly saying “not in my name”.
The whole affair was eerily reminiscent of the very reason we started the campaign for the right to know back in 2003: the manner in which the United Kingdom entered the coalition for the war in Iraq as denounced later by the Chilcot Inquiry. A small decision-making circle behind closed doors, setting an advanced public tone in the press, and only provide Parliament with the relevant information once that tone had been firmly set. Almost twenty years later, things do not look better. It is why in our proposal under discussion on the recognition of the right to know we have asked the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to carefully consider this important issue, as Parliaments are the highest expression of the voice and the sovereignty of the people. Their powers must correspond to that role.
The very same pandemic crisis has shown us the invaluable efforts of local administrators, of elected representatives, of millions of volunteers in combatting not only the primary health crisis, but in catering to the daily needs of so many left out in the cold, often invisible to central government. Their instances are best represented by those closest to the people, by those chosen to represent them. It is in the very interest of those at the top to listen to the insights of those operating at the bottom. And it is in the interest of each and every citizen that those words carry weight. Democracy must not respond to managerial terms of efficiency. It must first and foremost protect and represent life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all.
Time and time again we see how the strongest and often most creative proposals protecting these intrinsic values have come from the very bowels of those Parliamentary Institutions deemed an obsolete and costly relic of the past by some. Just think of the Global Magnitsky Act or the many incisive foreign policy Acts promoted and adopted across the aisle at the US Congress or the latest Genocide Amendment to the Trade Bill in the UK. While it is obvious some problems do exist, a majority of people’s representatives have shown they are not beholden to the strings attached to executive power, and have acted with courage, capability and tenacity in promoting democracy and freedom for all. So, if I am granted one wish in this new year, let it be that we allow MPs across all democracies the same power and dignity to show their colors and restore the primacy of their legislative powers, also in the field of foreign policy.
(Laura Harth, A human rights activist, she coordinates activities with the Global Committee for the Rule of Law “Marco Pannella” (GCRL). She also acts as a regional liaison for the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC).)
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