Hungarian Democracy Under Fire

Earlier this month Hungary took a step back from democracy, when its government introduced a new constitution that severely limits the rights of the media, minorities and the Judiciary, in clear violation of the laws and principles of the European Union. The governing parties that introduced this measure, Fidesz and the KDNP, have between them 2/3rds of the seats in the Hungarian Parliament, based on 52% of the vote.

It violates the rights of the minority in Hungary by enabling the ruling party Fidesz to pack the courts, control the media, and gerrymander electoral boundaries - which it does specifically.

It prevents any future government that does not have 2/3rds support in Parliament from amending the tax regime. Thus, astonishingly, it shamelessly ruptures the principle of linking taxation to representation.

It bans gay marriage and conspiciously leaves out any mention of discrimination against LGBT society. Perhaps you are against

The Constitution thus enshrines conservative moral values in a notionally secular nation - within the secular framework of the EU. In short, it isn't a constitution that any self-respecting republican would approve of.

Many Hungarians are self-respecting republicans, however, and have taken to the streets over the new constitution, demanding the restoration of the Hungarian Republic. Their struggle is unlikely to be successful by domestic efforts alone - a direct effect of the new constitution's provisions.

Resistance to the measure is being led by the opposition MSZP, who are building a popular movement to repeal the constitution.

They need their partners in Europe to stand beside them, and they need their government's partners to stand up for democracy. The European Commission is talking about legal action. Astonshingly, the EPP - to whom Fidesz and the KDNP are affiliated - consider this to be none of their business. In Ireland, that means Fine Gael.

Labour Youth and ECOSY Young European Socialists are thus appealing for Irish people to get in contact with their Fine Gael TDs, Senators and MEPs, bring this to their attention, and demand they get the EPP to put pressure on Fidesz and the KDNP to repeal the constitution and save Hungarian democracy.

We also ask that Irish people, as European citizens, sign this petition to highlight their opposition to this attack on democracy.

The Party of European Socialists (PES) is asking people to write to the Hungarian ambassador in their country. Details for the Hungarian Ambassador to Ireland can be found here.

LABOUR YOUTH WELCOMES OVERTHROW OF UNDEMOCRATIC GADAFFI REGIME

Issued : Thursday 25 August, 2011

Labour Youth welcomes the continuing success of the popular revolution in Libya, which has ousted the decades-long dictatorship of Col. Muammar Gaddafi. The overthrow of Gaddafi’s autocratic, dictatorial regime is something that all progressive-minded people should celebrate, and we join the Libyan people in celebrating this important moment in their history.

It is our hope that the people of Libya replace the ousted Gaddafi regime with a new and inclusive republic, with political and economic democracy at its heart, which is embraced by the international community. The people of Libya have suffered under authoritarian, anti-democratic rule for four decades under Gaddafi ‘so-called “Islamic socialism”. As socialists, we argue for meaningful democracy, fair distribution of resources, and equality between people. Under Gaddafi’s regime, no such conditions existed. We hope to see these values taken up by the National Transitional Council as they prepare Libya for a new system of government.

We congratulate the people of Libya on the success of their popular uprising, and share with the world our hopes of a better future for the Libyan people

AUGUST LEFT TRIBUNE

The August Edition of Labour Youth's Left Tribune is available online now from this link - http://issuu.com/labouryouth/docs/august_left_tribune. Featuring articles on the atrocities in Norway, the Irish Economy, and the 1911 Strike in Wexford. Print editions should be ready soon, we hope you enjoy it!

Always wanted to design an iconic Tshirt, seen and worn by thousands? Michael D Higgins, candidate for the Áras 2011, is encouraging Irish people, youth in particular, to come up with artwork for his campaign. In particular we are looking for T-Shirt designs to be worn by supporters & canvassers all over the media and at doorsteps.
Entries should be in a high-resolution in CMYK format (or a low-res image in .jpg as an example). They should be submitted to Keith O' Brien at keith@keithobrien.ie no later than August 22nd @ 5pm 2011. Contact Keith for further questions etc.

So, what do people think of the US debt thing?

So, what do people think of the US debt thing?

Answer here

Which really came first, the chicken or the egg?

So, this goes down to how life started. It started with one cell splitting in tow, one organism splitting in two, eggs were a later development, so the chicken came first. FACT!

Ask me anything

Press Release on Norway Attacks

LABOUR YOUTH CONDEMNS VIOLENCE IN NORWAY

While the concrete details are yet to emerge, Labour Youth note with great sadness the terrible acts of violence which took place today in Oslo and Utoya, Norway.

The loss of any human life is a tragedy, and we offer our sincerest sympathy and condolences to the people of Norway as they come to terms with this tragic event.

As young socialists and social-democrats, we are particularly horrified by the callous and brutal murder of our comrades in the Workers' Youth League of Norway.

Our thoughts are with the victims' families, their friends and with those who love them. We are united in our shock and in our sadness. We share in their grief.

We condemn those who came to bring violence to peaceful places today. Violence like we witnessed today builds nothing. It only destroys.

Those who want to change the world by murdering the innocent are always bound to fail.

We send every good wish to the people who have been affected by these terrible events, and hope that the perpetrators of this violence are brought to justice.

In solidarity, and in memory of our lost comrades.

LABOUR YOUTH WELCOMES TANAISTE'S PLEDGE TO SUPPORT BELARUSIAN DEMOCRACY

Labour Youth was excited this weekend to hear the leader of the Labour Party, An Tainiste and Foreign Minister, Eamon Gilmore pledge his support for Belarusian democracy.

Speaking last Saturday at the Tom Johnson Summer School in Kilkenny, Mr. Gilmore pledged to work steadily in his capacity as Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to impose pressure on the dictatorial regime of Alexander Lukashenko, with the end goal being the creation of meaningful democracy in Belarus.

This pledge was delivered in the light of Labour Youth's awarding of the Jim Kemmy Award for Social Justice to young members of MSD-MH, a Belarusian social-democratic party who have been actively campaigning for public awareness and resistance to the undemocratic and repressive regime of Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994. Under the current regime, fraudulent elections and crackdowns on dissent are regular, and human rights abuses have been widespread. Labour Youth sincerely hopes that we can look forward to an emerging democratic transition for Belarus in the near future, and that we can see the end of Europe's last dictatorship.

Labour Youth is working closely with allied organisations to lend their support and assistance in the encouragement of emergent democracy in the Republic of Belarus, and as such welcomes the Tainiste's pledge to support this process in his capacity as Foreign Minister.

ENDS

Michael D Higgins making his last speech in the Dail

Deputy Ciara Conway speaking on the proposed Childrens' Rights Referendum