The advantage of a PM who has failed

The possibility of the impossibility never makes sense. But when it does, you’ve outscored the competition.

Recently it became clear that Herman Van Rompuy, our prime minister, is going to become the first European President. This implies that somebody has to step up to take his place. Now a lot of people expect his fellow party-member and predecessor Yves Leterme to claim the stage. This prospect has sparked fierce debates among politicians, citizens and journalists.

Enough. About politicians who don’t know their place.

This text is the English translation of a piece I wrote in response to the latest political news in my country. You can read more about that here, here,and here.

It’s dishonorable and disgraceful to see how members of the government, the presidents of their parties and the parties themselves try to claim and hold on to something that doesn’t belong to them.

It were the people of this country who gave them the mandate to take up a seat in parliament. It were the people of this country who – through the elected members of parliamant – gave the ministers the mandate to be a minister and act like one.

You, my dearest politicians, have abused the power that we have temporarily given you.

It doesn’t matter what you’ve personally accomplished so far, or whatever merit you or your party are supposed to have for our community. Whatever your position is, you’ve obtained it by virtue of the people who were willing to support you.

Do you realize what that means?

Genoeg. Over politici die hun plaats niet kennen. (in Dutch)

For an English version of this text: click here

Het is beschamend om te zien hoe de regeringsleden, hun partijvoorzitters en partijen vasthouden aan iets wat niet van hen is.

Het is de bevolking die hun partijleden het mandaat heeft gegeven om een parlementaire functie te bekleden. Het is de bevolking die via het parlement aan de ministers het mandaat heeft gegeven om minister te zijn.

U, beste politici, hebt die plaats, die machtspositie, van ons in bruikleen gekregen.

Welk persoonlijk parcours u ook hebt afgelegd, welke eigen verdienste u en uw partij ook heeft, wat u beheert, de positie die u bekleedt hebt u enkel gekregen bij gratie van de mensen die u steunen.

Weet u wel wat dit betekent?