Government‐opposition dynamics in the European Union: The Santer Commission resignation crisis

Abstract

Abstract. This article seeks to shed light on the sources of government‐opposition dynamics in the European Union (EU). It considers the ideological left‐right divide and the sovereignty‐integration dimension as potential sources of a government‐opposition cleavage in the EU, as well as a ‘representation dimension’. The empirical evaluation of these propositions is based on a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the political crisis leading to the collective resignation of the Santer Commission. The article finds that government‐opposition dynamics in the EU are related to the sovereignty‐integration dimension of EU politics and to representation in EU executive institutions, rather than a left‐right divide. Both political beliefs and opportunistic motivations determine government‐support and opposition in the EU.

Europarties’ election pledges and European Commission legislative priorities: An assessment of their overlap

“…For example, during the 2009 EP elections, the PES presented itself as an alternative to the leading party at the EU level, often criticizing the EPP and suggesting that voters face a meaningful choice between political parties with very different ideas for the future of the EU (PES Manifesto). The emergence of a government-opposition dynamic, due to the ‘similar majority patterns’ in the Commission, Council and EP, is also highlighted by Ringe (2005: 693). The limited studies of the Greens portray the fourth largest group in the EP as the least cohesive and often voting together with the Socialists (Hix et al, 2005).…”

20 jaar Verantwoordingsdag: Inzicht voor Kamercommissies

“…De weigering van de oppositiepartijen om de minister decharge te verlenen over het jaar 2012 is daarmee zeer ongebruikelijk. Het weigeren van decharge wordt uitgelegd als een motie van wantrouwen (Ringe, 2005).…”

Bureaucratic change in the European administrative space: The case of the European commission

“…The political crisis thus provided the basis for linking problems and solutions that had been identified long before (Bauer 2001(Bauer , 2002Metcalfe 2000). Through this approach, we can understand the timing of administrative reforms whose eventual adoption was not based on a rationalist process, but required an accidental trigger in the form of the Santer resignation crisis (Peterson 1999;Ringe 2005).…”