January 09, 2008, 10:10 CET
Socialist city council members expected to receive fines over vote
Socialist party Budapest city council members are likely to receive fines for voting against the party line last December, writes Nol.hu. Former Socialist faction leader Erzsébet Gy. Németh and District VII mayor György Hunvald voted counter to how the Socialist faction had been ordered to in relation to the appointment of three theater managers. The first time a council member disobeys the party, they receive a warning. Following repeated flouting of the party's voting orders, monetary fines can be levied, with expulsion from the party also being a possibility, although since the Socialist and Free Democrats only have a majority in the city council by a single member, the chances of that happening are unlikely.
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Does MSzP prefer to stand candidates who put aggrandisement ahead conscience? Is it still a democracy when one votes the party line to avoid having one's pockets picked by the party?
Does a policy like this not re-inforce a culture of politicians putting themselves first, before the nation? Does MSzP not trust their MPs to know what's in the best interests of those they represent?
Does this absolves MPs from personal responsiblity on how they vote? Is that a good thing?
We live in a "Parliamentarian Democracy" where you vote more for a political Party, than your personal MP. I do not not know any Parliamentarian Party that does not have a political whip, that enforce the Party Line.
You would see the same thing in Fidesz/KDNP if, for example some MP would not leave the assembly when the PM is speaking, or actually would like to vote for the visits/tutition fees.
Nothing stops an MP from leaving their Party to pursue their own ideas, except not being re-elect
Of course MPs face consequences for not toeing the party line, such as not getting a committee chair or something along those lines, but fining them bothers me more.
One form of punishment prevents the MP from going forward, the other sets them back, and while the leadership of the parties are the ones we see most, (who are no doubt financially well off), the fines can impact the smaller party member who actually depends on his parliamentary salary.
HOW can they be fined? Not from their salary, then they should be paid by the State/Ciy and not by their party. Maybe they get some extra money from their Party?
Like most contractual agreements any fines could probably be challenged in a court of law, but that would probably just lead to an expulsion from the Party group, leading to the total loss of any future advancments and re-elections.
Following your conscience always have a price...
on the mechanics of fining - I would think that if they don't pay, then they don't get put forward for the next election - or a plum party role.
I'm bothered about the message it sends out. It says that it's okay to tie an MP's personal finance to parliamentary voting. If it's okay to fine, then it's also okay to gain personally.
500 characters is insufficient.
To the point of parliamentary democracy, that's untrue... Just because there's a party and whips, that doesn't mean that the design of the politicial system is such that there are only as many opinions there are parties in gov't. Nor that a minority opinion cant sway the majority.
If what you said was the design, then why have all those extra chairs? Or institute fines? Think how much the State could save if put out just 1 chair for Ferenc!
Agree w 500 chr
Elected politicians are 1stly responsible against their parties, not the electorate. That is its design and how it works. If everyone should be independent, we should abolish political parties.
If you are a member of a klub, you follow the rules or leave (un)willingly. Like the 9 MSZP-politicians who left for the SocialDemocratic Party (see other news today).
A Party's policy is not invented by its MPs, the Party has a lot of members also who should influence the politics.