-Caveat Lector- EU Nations To Pick New Parliament By ROBERT WIELAARD .c The Associated Press BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - Ending a campaign pushed to the background by the Kosovo conflict, elections for a new European Parliament conclude Sunday with voters in 11 European Union nations casting ballots. Almost 300 million Europeans are eligible to vote for the 626-member assembly, which has had a hard time shedding its image as a gravy train although it enjoys ever more clout. Over the years, it has been given the right to amend EU laws in many areas, reject treaties with non-EU nations and vote down the EU budget. Pauline Green, the British leader of the assembly's socialist faction, said during the campaign that Europeans ``know about the European Parliament, know about these elections and I very much hope that will translate'' into a solid turnout. That has not happened so far. Voting began Thursday in Britain, the Netherlands and Denmark. On Friday, the Irish voted. No significant turnout was reported in these nations. On Sunday, voters in Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Luxembourg, Portugal, Finland and Austria take their turn. The results from all 15 countries will be tallied after the last polls close, with final results expected Monday. Europeans vote for candidates from their home country, one reason why the elections remain a barometer of how political parties stand at home, rather than in Strasbourg, France, or Brussels, the cities where the European Parliament meets. The Socialist, Christian Democrat and liberal factions will likely remain the largest groups. The assembly, which has long had a reputation of being a toothless talk shop, sought to shed that image earlier this year by engineering the ouster of the European Commission, the powerful executive branch of the union, after revelations of nepotism and corruption. The new commission is expected to be led by Romano Prodi, a former Italian prime minister who has pledged to institute reforms. The number of seats at stake in each country ranges from 6 for Luxembourg to 99 for Germany. For the first time, British candidates will win seats based on proportional representation instead of winner take all. In Germany, the elections are the first major test for Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's socialist-green alliance that came to power last fall. In France, Belgium, Austria and Italy, right-wing candidates are expected to hold their ground. Most candidates have pledged to clean up the EU head office and stress job creation, crime-fighting and protecting the environment. At the last session, the assembly resisted efforts to curb its own pay and expenses. It meets in an immense, $1.2 billion glass-and-chrome complex in Brussels where each member has a private toilet and shower, and will soon occupy equally opulent quarters in Strasbourg. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
