‘No confidence’ vote threat to Giscard’s rule

Date: 07/03/02

By Martin Banks

VALERY Giscard d'Estaing could face a bid to oust him as chairman of the Convention on Europe's future later this month, it has emerged.

Members of the forum will call for a vote of no confidence in the former French president unless he backs down in an escalating row over his 'autocratic' leadership.

Giscard d'Estaing, who launched the Convention only last week, has been accused of political bias and censorship after refusing to abandon his proposed rules of procedure.

The 105 MEPs, national politicians and European Commission officials who make up the Convention have until tomorrow (8 March) to submit amendments to the 16-point set of debating rules, which will then be considered by Giscard's 12-member praesidium, or steering committee, next Thursday.

The rules decree that the Frenchman will have full control of who speaks, and when, during the meetings.

Unless he relents, Giscard faces a confrontation when the Convention next meets in Brussels on 21 March.

Danish MEP and Convention member Jens-Peter Bonde said: 'There could be fireworks.

'Unless there are significant changes to how the debate is run, the European Parliamentary delegation will oppose Giscard's position as head of the convention.'

Members of Giscard's back-room team are now fighting a frantic battle to convince members that there is no secret agenda to stifle debate and rush through initiatives on issues such as majority voting.

Opposition to the planned rules has emerged among praesidium representatives as well as national and European Parliament members on the Convention, European Voice can reveal.

Ex-Irish Prime Minister John Bruton, who represents national parliaments on the praesidium, said: 'There is real concern that the whole business is being centrally managed. Many members feel that the existing draft rules go too far and there is insufficient scope for them to take the initiative without the consent of the praesidium.

'There is a feeling that the praesidium will drive through the agenda exclusively at the expense of other members.'

He added: 'I am optimistic, however, that these matters can be resolved once we have sat down and discussed them. This Convention is unprecedented and we still have to establish a working relationship.'

Other praesidium members are thought to share his concerns. British MP Gisela Stuart, one of only two female members on the steering group, said: 'I expect there will be some changes to the draft rules.'

But Spanish EPP member Iñigo Méndez de Vigo, who is also on the praesidium, said he was keeping an open mind: 'We'll examine the amendments tomorrow and take it from there.'

Giscard's spokesman, Nikolaus Meyer Landrut, said: 'We are not talking here about rules for a parliament, where the logic of voting is obvious.

'This is a forum which hears views and then comes to a consensus.'

Valéry Giscard d'Estaing could face a bid to oust him as chairman of the Convention on Europe's future on 21 March 2002. Members of the forum will call for a vote of no confidence in the former French president unless he backs down in an escalating row over his 'autocratic' leadership.