DEMOCRACY IN CRISIS THE IMPACT OF THE EUROZONE

DEMOCRACY IN CRISIS: THE IMPACT OF THE EUROZONE CRISIS ON THE GREEK PARLIAMENT DR. EMMANUEL SIGALAS CARLETON UNIVERSITY

OUTLINE The Greek crisis: economic background and implications The Greek crisis: the main political consequences The delegitimation of the parliament Why is the Greek parliament so unpopular? Impact on the legislative and control function of the Greek parliament The chances for democracy

IS PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY IN GREECE UNDER THREAT? After all… • Elections took place on January 25. • For the 15 th time in just 40 years • Never before did the citizens have that many parties to choose from • 7 parties in the parliament

ECONOMIC BACKGROUND A weak economy already before the outbreak of the global crisis in 2008 Entry into EMU a blessing and a curse Blessing: lower interest rates, stronger currency consumption and imports grew. Curse: Exports didn’t and Greece can’t devalue its currency Trade Balance and Payments Balance increasing deficit Debt (which was already high) EMU is not well equipped for asymmetrical shocks. No fiscal union. Bailout under conditions of extreme austerity (memoranda with the troika in 2010 and 2012).

GREEK UNEMPLOYMENT

GREEK GDP PER CAPITA

THE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES Unprecedented pressure on the whole political system: 1. Government 2. Party system 3. Parliament

WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THE PARLIAMENT • It’s an institution: it has a life of its own, regardless of what party or individual is in government or in the parliament • It’s the heart of democracy: it has to keep pumping, regardless of (1) who is in power, (2) how popular the government is, (3) whethere is an economic crisis or not The fate of the parliament should not be identical to the fate of the government (party) If the government (party) goes down, the parliament should not go with it.

09 20 08 20 07 20 06 20 05 20 04 20 5) 6) B 7 (E (E B 7 4) B 7 3) B 7 (E 1) 2) B 7 (E (E (E B 7 0) B 7 9) B 6 B 20 12 77) ( 20 EB 7 13 8) (E B 20 13 79) ( 20 EB 8 14 0) (E B 20 14 81) (E B 8 2) 12 20 11 20 10 20 09 Greek Government 20 7) 8) B 6 (E (E B 6 6) B 6 5) B 6 (E 3) 4) B 6 (E (E (E B 6 2) B 6 1) B 6 (E (E (E TRUST THE GOVERNMENT 60 50 40 %30 20 10 0

DEMISE OF THE PARTY SYSTEM

PRESSURE ON THE PARLIAMENT 1. From the people 2. From the government

TEND TO TRUST THE PARLIAMENT

TEND NOT TO TRUST THE PARLIAMENT 100 Spain Greece Italy Ireland Portugal 90 80 70 60 % 50 40 30 20 10 0 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

HOSTILITY TOWARD PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY

MORE HOSTILITY

WHY IS THE PARLIAMENT SO UNPOPULAR? 1. Government can usually pass any legislation it likes 2. Government can circumvent ordinary legislative procedure 3. Ministers effectively immune from prosecution 4. Ministers and PM may be excused from questioning time 1. MPs earn much more 2. MPs enjoy other privileges (assistants, expenses) 3. MPs are immune from prosecution 1. Limited accountability 2. Limited transparency and accessibility for citizens 3. Any opening is perceived as weakness that political opponents may exploit

THE GOVERNMENT DISCREDITING THE PARLIAMENT? “There is no doubt, that in society’s conscience the parliamentary process has been discredited, and what we are experiencing during the past years is a dehydration of democracy itself. Of course history teaches, that in periods of crisis the depreciation of the parliament and of the institutions grows enormously. It teaches also, that the policy against the people demands, and imposes, a discredited parliament. What we are going through in this country, however, […] is without precedent. I will speak in numbers. Four hundred executive laws have come through here [the plenary]. One hundred and eighty of them only during the past two years. Forty acts of legislative content have gone through. Nine bills under the very urgent procedure, that is [examined and voted] just in two days, during the past two years. The Prime Minister shows up only to vote. He never comes to [answer] the questions that are submitted by the [parliamentary group] leaders or the MPs. He abolished the PM Time. The government ministers follow his example. The parliament no longer deliberates, it does not discuss in a political sense, it has acquired a strictly implemental role. Amendments [are submitted] in hiding, in the night, past the deadline. Bills of hundreds of pages in a single article!” ( ).

GLOSSARY Executive laws: decrees issued by the president of the republic upon minister’s recommendation (no parliamentary involvement) Very urgent procedure acts: parliamentary committee meets once, plenary decided on single session (max. 10 hours) Legislative content acts: cloture motions issued by the president of the republic upon minister’s recommendation. Parliament has to ratify within 3 months. In between they remain valid.

LEGISLATIVE OUTPUT 140 Ordinary Bills 1 1 120 Legislative Content Acts V. Urgent Procedure Acts 1 2 4 6 11 100 5 80 130 126 60 97 127 5 10 105 95 40 7 1 103 86 87 63 56 20 0 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

QUESTIONS TO THE PM 9 CQPM Subm. CQPM Disc. 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13

CURRENT QUESTIONS 160 CQ Subm. CQ Disc. 140 120 100 80 60 40 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13

QUESTIONS DISCUSSED IN PLENARY 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13

SUMMING UP Greek parliament was weak and dominated by the government well before the crisis The crisis deteriorated the situation Legislative and control functions have been affected, balance has shifted in favour of the government Parliament is even more powerless than before At the same time its legitimacy has deteriorated rapidly and sharply Public support at an all time low Public support depends on government support, which in turn depends on country’s economic performance…

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES FOR DEMOCRACY? 1. What are the chances the government will continue abusing its legislative prerogatives? 2. What are the chances the government will continue ignoring the opposition and the parliament? 3. What are the chances public support for the parliament becoming independent of public support for the government? 4. What are the chances public support for the government becoming independent of economic performance? 5. What are the chances for economic growth and employment in the near future? 6. Instead, what are the chances that Greece will default on its debt, exit the Eurozone, devalue its currency, and let savings vanish? What will happen then to the parliament? Do the math!

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? THANK YOU! emmanuelsigalas@gmail. com