You say Libertas is an anti-Lisbon, yet pro-European party. What are your main policy issues apart from opposition to the Lisbon Treaty?
We're going to be
publishing a detailed policy document in March which will lay out our policies in a very wide range of areas. The issue of democracy is not some small thing – it's huge, it's central, it's pivotal.
That, and this economy: come June, we are facing an economic hurricane across Europe, and people are slowly starting to realise that the very policies and leaders that have got us into this economic mess – which is only going to get worse – are the same leaders who are telling voters that this anti-democratic constitution is something that's good for them.
Stimulating Europe to be the predominant economic leader in the world, second only to nobody, is not going to come by chucking good money after bad, or flogging the taxpayers until they can't breathe anymore.
It seems likely that the 'economic hurricane' will overshadow all other issues in this year's European elections. Does Libertas have a specific economic platform?
Very much so. I wouldn't disagree with you that Lisbon isn't going to be the only issue, but it is going to be big. People may not be worried about Lisbon right now because they don't know what its effects are and what's in it. Only the Irish had a rip-roaring debate on it. The fact is that we exposed the treaty for the abomination that it is.
But besides Lisbon, what is Libertas's economic platform?
The leaders of Europe failed to recognise that the engine of job creation and growth, of a new European renaissance, is not banks, but the ability to stimulate people to take a bit of risk, to go out and start more small and medium-sized businesses of their own.
We have to create an environment where people are prepared and encouraged to take those risks. That's where Europe's economic recovery is going to come from. More medium-sized businesses across Europe will create more new jobs than any other sector in business. It's where innovation and the true genius of European creativity resides. That's where we need to shift our policy focus, and that is something you will hear Libertas talking about in the months to come.
Let's talk about candidates. The majority of politicians that signed Libertas's pan-European party status application are strongly eurosceptic. Will Libertas candidates follow a similar line?
I don't think so. I think we'll find – and that's not to take away from those signatories who were very generous to facilitate the democratic process – a very broad-based, moderate block of candidates putting their names forward for Libertas. Some of them will be politicians, many will not be. Many will be people who have well-established track records in other sectors, such as business and academia. Some will be 'young blood': people who have the energy and dynamism to inject real life into Libertas's very demanding agenda.
Can you name any candidates at this stage?
No. When we do, it will be with a little more fanfare than in an interview.
Originally Posted by Twin Towers
Hence the confusion as to what Libertas are about. I still don't know yet I'll vote for them and I am anything but federalist.
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