One of the joys of Brussels is that you will encounter self -proclaimed political saviours.
There are some countries/MEPs whose support is a life line, and others whose vocal support will doom you to political oblivion. This post is about how to spot the second group.
There is a strange tendency of many to embrace any support, even those support will all but guaranttee you won’t get what you want.
I’ve identified a group of blusterers who promise the earth and deliver little to nothing. They talk a great game but nothing much materializes from their words.
Before you place your destiny in their hands, here is a short checklist that may help you.
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They don’t turn up to do what they said they would do: to the meeting – Committee/Working Group, submit an objection, table an amendment.
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When the issue / Article comes up for consideration, they don’t speak up.
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The Roger Helmer effect. Whose support – tabling an amendment/speaking up for you – will lead the vast majority of MEPs/Member States to move away from you.
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Have no-limited political alliances beyond a small hinterland and no track record of legislative success.
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Whose support will banish your cause to the political wilderness for the next 5 years.
How to Spot Them
It is easy enough to identify these false saviours – those whose support will likely lead you into political damnation.
1. EUMatrix.eu has some clever algorithims to identify the MEPs and countries whose support delivers majorities and those who don’t. They do some excellent deep dive analysis for a very reasonable fee.
2. Speak to experiened advisers/officials and ask if the country/MEP will help form a broad and winning colaition. If they grimmace, you know what you need to know.
3. Ask the official/MEP when they were last on the winning side.
Of course, the warm embrace of political acceptance by a small band of fellow travelers is too enticing to many, and they’ll be lured onto the rocks of political defeat.