Doc. 8478
13 July 1999

Protection of parliamentarism

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Eörsi and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and only expresses the views of the members who have signed it

      The Assembly,

1.       Concerned about the functioning of the national parliaments in some of its member states, especially because

      — the function of parliaments to control the executive branch is often blocked by the majority;—

— parliaments do not provide enough opportunity to the opposition to express their views either on bills tabled or on the activity of the executive;

— committee seats are not distributed proportionally among parties according to election results;

— formal legal arguments are used to set aside democratic principles and traditions;

— access by the media to parliaments is limited, preventing citizens following the activities of the parliaments;

— parliaments are not convened regularly;

— parliaments are used as simple "Law Factories";

2.       Considering that the essence of parliamentarism and the principles under which parliaments should function are essential to and indispensable for substantial democratic life in the member states,

3.       Instructs its Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights to make a survey as to what extent cause for concern exists in member states and to present a report and recommendation to the Assembly;

4,       Instructs its Monitoring Committee to extend its monitoring activity to the functioning of national parliaments.

Signed : ¹

Eörsi, Hungary, LDR

Holovaty, Ukraine, LDR

Arnold, Denmark, LDR

Atkinson, United Kingdom, EDG

Barsony, Hungary, SOC

Belohorska, Slovakia, EDG

Bonet Casas, Andorra, LDR

Brand, United Kingdom, LDR

Clerfayt, Belgium, LDR

Davis, United Kingdom, SOC

Dees, Netherlands, LDR

Duka-Zolyomi, Slovakia, EPP/CD

Ehrmann, France, LDR

Enright, Ireland, EPP/CD

Frey, Switzerland, LDR

Gelderblom-Lankhout, Netherlands, LDR

Hadjidemetriou, Cyprus, SOC

Hancock, United Kingdom, LDR

Hegyi, Hungary, SOC

Iwinski, Poland, SOC

Jäätteenmäki, Finland, LDR

Jakic, Slovenia, LDR

Jansson, Finland, LDR

Kittis, Cyprus, LDR

Korkeaoja, Finland, LDR

Lotz, Hungary, LDR

Loutfi, Bulgaria, LDR

Martinez, Spain, SOC

Muehlemann, Switzerland, LDR

Pollo, Albania, EPP/CD

Radoš, Croatia, LDR

Ringstad, Norway, LDR

Roseta, Portugal, EPP/CD

Schwimmer, Austria, EPP/CD

Seiler, Switzerland, LDR

Severinsen, Denmark, LDR

Shishlov, Russia, LDR

Solonari, Moldova, SOC

Svec, Slovakia, LDR

Tabajdi, Hungary, SOC

Urbanczyk, Poland, SOC

Valk, Netherlands, SOC

Verbeek, Netherlands, LDR

Wielowieyski, Poland, EPP/CD

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group