| Lowering the Bar |
7 July 2003
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Berlusconi-Schultz Flap Embarrasses Europe
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi got his EU presidency off to a fine start by insulting a German Euro legislator with a crack about Nazi-like behavior. While Mr. Berlusconi was rather provoked by the immature taunting from Mr. Martin Schultz, MEP, his response proves that Europe needs to have a popularly elected president instead of letting a head of government have six months in the job.
The kerfuffle has abated somewhat by Mr. Berlusconi's ensuing almost-apology and Chancellor Schroeder's declaration that the matter is closed. However, the fact remains that the counter-productive exchange between the men could have been avoided if another method of choosing the EU president were employed, resulting in a different sort of person getting the job.
Under the current system, every six months a different nation's leader doubles as EU President. While most of the time this yields a decent enough result, there are situations that are regrettable; Mr. Berlusconi is not unique in being unfit to run his home country (recall last week he had to have a law passed to suspend his bribery trial), let alone represent Europe.
Under the proposed constitution drafted by Mr. Valery Giscard d'Estaing, former French President, a person rather than a country would hold the presidency. While the job will not carry the same power as the US version, it is still important enough to make sure the president is not a buffoon who cobbled together a coalition of ten parties back home.
One thing is for certain -- if the current system results in an Italian president likening a German legislator to a Nazi prison-camp guard, the current system has failed to provide the EU with the best possible choices for both positions.