Other than strengthening the action of European governments. To the Germans the affirmation of the Italian premier Mario Monti, released yesterday in the weekly Der Spiegel, it seemed excessive and even anti-democratic. Monti declared that, since "the problems of the European zone must be solved quickly", governments must have an "autonomous room for manoeuvre" with respect to parliaments. Otherwise, according to the Italian premier, a "disintegration" of Europe is in sight.
Bitter words that do not go down to German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle. “We need a strengthening, not a weakening, of democratic legitimacy in Europe” declared the Minister in open confrontation with the Italian premier. “Parliamentary checks on European politics are above any debate,” he continued.
Even more pungent the head of the parliamentary group of the block Angela Merkel's conservative, Volker Kauder, who said: “As a diehard parliamentarian, I can only say that the rights of a parliament or parliamentarianism cannot be eliminated by strengthening executive institutions in Europe".
Il secretary of the Bavarian Christian-Social Union (CSU), Alexander Dobrindt, speaks of an "attack on democracy", adding that "German taxpayers' lust for money drives Mr. Monti to an anti-democratic anthology". “We Germans”, he added, “will not be willing to abrogate our democracy to finance Italian debts”.
Minister Westerwelle described the sometimes poisonous tone of the debate on the debt crisis as "dangerous" for European unity. “Attempts to fuel one's prominence at home cannot be the driving force behind initiatives in any country in Europe, not even in Germany. The situation in Europe is too serious, there is too much at stake”, he added.
The Federal Constitutional Court has repeatedly reaffirmed the right of parliament to have its voice heard in Germany's response to the debt crisis. The court will have to rule on September 12 on the legal exceptions to the creation of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), while the financial markets nervously await a decision.
