Democratic Euro-Vision
Draft of a Charter
In most European countries, there are organisations and/or movements trying to democratize their political systems by introducing elements of Direct Democracy. To increase their efficiency, it is desirable to establish a coalition forming a common European movement, aiming at regular contacts by means of a blog, discussing common goals and strategy, and supporting one another´s efforts. This step is necessary for taking part in future European elections. For this purpose, the following definitions should be agreed upon:
1. Direct Democracy
2. People´s Interest and People´s Will
3. Relationship between People Power and Executive Power
4. Rules of the Charter
Direct Democracy
This term should be applied not only to the Citizen Initiative and Referendum, but also to various types of Public Deliberation (Planning Cells and Citizen Juries), the promotion of Citizens´ Constitutions, proposals of alternative political systems, and methods of electronic voing.
People´s Interest and People´s Will
The People´s Will, coming from the People´s Interest, is the line defined by the majority of the citizens; it can be looked on as the National Interest, if we consider the Nation as the assembly of citizens, looking at the relationship both ways: the Citizens form the Nation, and the Nation cares for the Citizens.
All too often in the past, the National Interest, as defined above, has been bent in favour of other interests: individuals and lobbies have had their own interests prevail over the Citizens´ Will.
Relationship between People Power and Executive Power
The People Power (legislation) is superior to the Executive Power. Decisions made by elected representatives on all levels can be abolished or altered by methods of Direct Democracy, incorporated in the system. The Executive Power must be non-partisan; it should only implement decisions made by the Legislative Power
Rules of the Charter
To become member of the proposed Coalition, the organisation or movement in question must formally declare that it accepts the principles expressed in the Charter.
The basic principle is the following:
In a Democracy, the Constitution on which the political system is based, must be agreed upon and adopted by the majority of citizens in a national referendum without any interference on the part of political parties. As long as this has not happened, the respective Constitution cannot be considered as democratic and legitimate. It must be considered as provisional only and susceptible of amendments made directly by the Citizens.
(Comment: the wording "the citizens have to learn thinking as a Nation, not as individuals" looks like a nationalistic propaganda, now discredited. It is a fact that each individual pursues what he/she considers as his/her individual interest. The important point is to make them understand that their individual interests coincide with the interests of the Nation, i.e. Society as a whole, rather than with the interests of a category or group upon which party politics is based.)
