EFA against presidentialism
1.
EFA, a family of diversities, needs to launch bridges of hope even further, for
solidarity, subsidiarity, democracy in Europe.
2.
It is up to EFA to connect with many other independent voters, civic movements,
local and territorial leaders, sharing a critique of presidentialism in the states, in the Union,
in the world, along with all concentrations of political power, and centralism in all its
versions.
3.
EFA should be critical of presidentialism, precisely because we have come to be wary
of leaders’ direct election failures in large centralist states.
4.
Media dominated political campaigns have degenerated in mediacracy: candidates
can emerge only if supported by opaque concentrations of power and riches. Leaders’ direct
election in large constituencies are in fact mediatic “plebiscites”, a travesty of democracy,
not a real expression of bottom-up political processes.
5.
Leaders’ direct election leads to vitriolic polarization, populism, extremism.
Minorities, innovators, mavericks, independent candidates, local leaders are marginalized.
6.
Presidentalism is put in discussion in many large states (not only but also because
many presidents, once elected, have become immovable tyrants) in Africa, North America,
Latin America, Asia.
7.
In Europe, too, we do not need an elected “Napoleon”. EFA should remain critical of
the prospect of a “direct election” of an European “president”, and stand in support of
parliamentarism in all levels of governments.
Created in Florence, 25 March 2025
Adopted unanimously by EFA General Assembly in Nantes, 9 May 2025
Motion number 26
Introduced by Mauro Vaiani (in the picture)
Presented by: Patto per l’Autonomia – FVG, Siciliani Liberi, Ora Toscana, Rumâgna Unida