0:00:16.977,0:00:19.167 We are pleased, here with ATTAC, 0:00:19.167,0:00:21.297 to welcome Etienne Chouard 0:00:21.297,0:00:23.767 for a conference with an utopian title: 0:00:23.837,0:00:27.277 European Union, if we had to do it again? 0:00:27.277,0:00:29.267 Etienne Chouard is a teacher 0:00:29.267,0:00:31.327 of Law and Economics in Marseille. 0:00:31.327,0:00:33.327 He is also an independent researcher, 0:00:33.327,0:00:35.427 and he feed his thoughts with debates 0:00:35.427,0:00:37.840 which took place in 2005 0:00:37.840,0:00:41.481 during the European Constitutional Treaty. 0:00:41.481,0:00:45.671 The possibility to say "no" to that treaty, to this constitution 0:00:45.671,0:00:48.801 made him study it thouroughly, 0:00:48.801,0:00:52.801 and then reveal all the wrongdoings of this constitution, 0:00:52.850,0:00:54.905 which, he says, was done 0:00:54.905,0:00:56.885 not for the people, 0:00:56.885,0:00:58.645 but for those who wrote it, 0:00:58.645,0:01:00.885 and who governs us. 0:01:00.885,0:01:02.625 Tonight, he will present 0:01:02.625,0:01:04.885 his vision of the European Union, 0:01:04.885,0:01:07.335 Of democracy and what it means. 0:01:07.335,0:01:09.885 We will also discuss 0:01:09.885,0:01:12.885 the theme of money creation 0:01:12.885,0:01:16.225 Question the need for a constitutional treaty. 0:01:16.225,0:01:17.885 And evoke 0:01:17.885,0:01:20.885 a new and original process: 0:01:20.885,0:01:22.475 that is selected by lot 0:01:22.475,0:01:25.395 in order to elect our representatives. 0:01:25.395,0:01:27.335 Before giving the mic to Etienne, 0:01:27.335,0:01:30.235 I want to thank the City Hall 0:01:30.235,0:01:32.959 for giving us this conference room. 0:01:32.959,0:01:34.969 And thanks to Etienne 0:01:34.969,0:01:37.969 who is not paid to be here. 0:01:37.969,0:01:43.720 This conference will last 0:01:43.720,0:01:45.860 until around 10 PM. 0:01:45.860,0:01:47.730 So, we will have a first part, 0:01:47.730,0:01:49.230 until 7.30PM, 0:01:49.230,0:01:50.829 To talk about different points. 0:01:50.829,0:01:53.329 Then we will make a short break. 0:01:53.329,0:01:56.329 It's possible to get food nearby. 0:01:56.329,0:01:58.102 And we'll come back 0:01:58.102,0:02:00.592 at 8 to continue the debate. 0:02:00.592,0:02:04.592 Now, Etienne will take the stage. 0:02:04.889,0:02:08.499 Can you hear me? 0:02:08.499,0:02:11.859 I should lean closer to this thing... 0:02:11.859,0:02:14.799 Can you hear me? 0:02:14.799,0:02:19.099 Good evening, everyone. 0:02:22.479,0:02:27.139 I have a strong idea to get us out of this mess. 0:02:27.139,0:02:30.379 I'm here to talk about it. 0:02:30.379,0:02:32.989 I woke up 6 years ago 0:02:32.989,0:02:35.099 during the debate for the 0:02:35.099,0:02:36.949 European anticonstitutional treaty 0:02:36.949,0:02:39.099 which was suggested in 2005. 0:02:39.099,0:02:40.669 I say anticonstituational 0:02:40.669,0:02:43.269 because it serves, once well studied, 0:02:43.269,0:02:47.429 it serves to destroy our national constitutions. 0:02:47.429,0:02:49.129 And, it works well. 0:02:49.129,0:02:52.129 It's a system that works. 0:02:52.129,0:02:53.379 And, since then, 0:02:54.075,0:02:56.375 since I woke up 0:02:56.375,0:02:58.885 I remained awake, 0:02:58.885,0:03:01.795 and I'm thinking about what might 0:03:01.796,0:03:04.110 protect human beings 0:03:04.110,0:03:06.820 against abuses of power. 0:03:06.820,0:03:08.240 So I read a lot. 0:03:08.240,0:03:11.380 The more I read, the more I want to read. 0:03:11.380,0:03:13.260 It's becoming a reading frenzy. 0:03:13.260,0:03:14.730 And at the same time, I am discovering. 0:03:14.730,0:03:16.100 something useful. I'm finding, 0:03:16.100,0:03:17.350 in the history of men, 0:03:17.350,0:03:19.320 in the history of human thinking, 0:03:19.320,0:03:20.655 I find that men 0:03:20.655,0:03:23.655 have had problems with powers for a long time. 0:03:23.655,0:03:25.445 I find that men 0:03:25.445,0:03:26.875 need (ruling) powers 0:03:26.875,0:03:28.835 when we live in a society. 0:03:28.835,0:03:32.585 We need to delegate some powers. 0:03:32.597,0:03:36.597 And the men to whom we give the power to, 0:03:36.597,0:03:38.257 have always been changing. 0:03:38.257,0:03:40.597 They transform in a bad way. 0:03:40.597,0:03:42.614 So I find by reading, 0:03:42.614,0:03:44.604 that since Aristotle and the Athenian era, 0:03:44.604,0:03:46.714 - I'll talk a lot about Athens tonight 0:03:46.744,0:03:48.604 especially in the second part - 0:03:48.604,0:03:50.894 I find that... 0:03:51.154,0:03:54.794 men have developed means 0:03:54.794,0:03:57.794 to protect themselves from power abuses. 0:03:57.794,0:04:01.424 Very clever means. 0:04:01.424,0:04:03.634 Often thwarted by those 0:04:03.634,0:04:06.634 I call "power thiefs". 0:04:06.634,0:04:10.472 But... 0:04:10.472,0:04:12.270 It's not set in stone. 0:04:12.270,0:04:13.130 Today, 0:04:13.130,0:04:14.893 we are governed by people 0:04:14.893,0:04:16.623 abusing of their (ruling) powers. 0:04:16.623,0:04:18.205 I think the current situation 0:04:18.205,0:04:19.457 really allows for.... 0:04:19.457,0:04:20.890 It is a caricature today. 0:04:20.890,0:04:22.189 Those who don't see 0:04:22.189,0:04:23.419 that those in power abuse 0:04:23.419,0:04:24.799 are completely blind. 0:04:24.799,0:04:27.599 But I think everyone sees that. 0:04:27.599,0:04:30.059 Room question : Who are you talking about? 0:04:30.059,0:04:32.359 The people who are in power. 0:04:32.359,0:04:34.029 Members of the Parliament, 0:04:34.029,0:04:37.319 Ministers, they all make decisions. 0:04:37.319,0:04:40.999 Without any means for, 0:04:40.999,0:04:46.959 the people's discontent to materialize. 0:04:46.959,0:04:50.959 I think it's clear enough. 0:04:53.711,0:04:58.921 The main tool that humans created 0:04:58.939,0:05:02.939 that has been used since Athens, 0:05:02.939,0:05:05.399 is called the Constitution. 0:05:05.399,0:05:08.049 It's the rule of law. 0:05:08.049,0:05:10.029 The law allowed for 0:05:10.029,0:05:11.859 societies to be pacified. 0:05:11.859,0:05:16.109 Our representatives, [br]to whom we give the right 0:05:16.109,0:05:18.582 to write the law, 0:05:18.582,0:05:21.532 to whom we give the power [br]to write the law, 0:05:21.532,0:05:23.552 are, by definition,[br]because they can write the rules, 0:05:23.552,0:05:25.452 they are dangerous. 0:05:25.452,0:05:29.652 And the constitution is used to... 0:05:29.652,0:05:31.757 to limit their power. 0:05:31.757,0:05:33.837 To weaken their power. 0:05:33.837,0:05:38.147 A constitution is used to protect 0:05:38.147,0:05:41.407 those who consent to obey the laws. 0:05:42.167,0:05:45.397 It is used to protect them [br]from the abuses of those 0:05:45.397,0:05:48.247 who have the right[br]to write the rules and the law. 0:05:48.247,0:05:50.844 And so, this is an important [br]and clever text. 0:05:50.844,0:05:53.684 In fact, when we talk about [br]the constitution, 0:05:53.684,0:05:55.864 we talk about the law of the law. 0:05:55.864,0:05:58.094 It is a law which is above 0:05:58.094,0:06:00.284 those who make the law. 0:06:00.284,0:06:02.700 It's a superior law. 0:06:02.700,0:06:04.192 It's more than a law. 0:06:04.192,0:06:08.012 It's more than politics,[br]it's philosophical politics. 0:06:08.012,0:06:10.803 And it concerns us all directly. [br]All of us. 0:06:10.803,0:06:13.803 It concerns us very directly. 0:06:13.803,0:06:18.063 We should learn what a constitution is, 0:06:18.063,0:06:20.213 from a very early age. 0:06:20.213,0:06:22.273 We should know our constitution 0:06:22.273,0:06:23.743 by heart. 0:06:23.743,0:06:27.743 And we should protect our constitution. 0:06:28.619,0:06:30.839 As if it were the best protection 0:06:30.839,0:06:33.839 against all sorts of dominations 0:06:33.839,0:06:37.839 which might attack us. 0:06:40.171,0:06:42.134 Oddly enough though, 0:06:42.134,0:06:45.134 people don't care about [br]the constitution at all. 0:06:45.134,0:06:46.134 They ignore it. 0:06:46.134,0:06:48.094 They've heard the word, 0:06:48.094,0:06:49.974 but they don't know what it means, 0:06:49.974,0:06:51.534 what it's for, 0:06:51.534,0:06:53.434 how it works. 0:06:53.434,0:06:55.414 They don't know what's in it. 0:06:55.414,0:06:57.264 And I think that it is... 0:06:57.674,0:06:59.194 I'll get back to that, 0:06:59.194,0:07:01.384 but I think it's the cause of causes. 0:07:01.384,0:07:02.894 You'll see that I'm looking for, 0:07:02.894,0:07:04.914 in my various subjects, 0:07:04.914,0:07:06.754 which I think about 0:07:06.754,0:07:09.524 while I'm on this kind of quest, 0:07:09.524,0:07:13.524 the quest to resist against [br]abuse of power. 0:07:13.947,0:07:15.487 The main method which ... 0:07:15.487,0:07:18.487 which I am following is... 0:07:18.487,0:07:20.297 I'm looking for the cause of causes, 0:07:20.297,0:07:22.092 as Herodotus suggested. 0:07:22.092,0:07:23.752 I'm looking for the cause of causes, 0:07:23.752,0:07:25.552 and it's true that it works well. 0:07:25.552,0:07:28.892 When you want to solve a problem, 0:07:28.892,0:07:30.882 try to find (a solution) through... 0:07:30.882,0:07:33.882 Everything is multifactorial. 0:07:33.882,0:07:36.372 Every phenomena has several causes, but, 0:07:36.372,0:07:40.122 if you manage to find [br]the determining causes, 0:07:40.122,0:07:41.672 by this I mean the causes 0:07:41.672,0:07:43.755 that lead to other causes 0:07:43.755,0:07:45.758 The primordial causes, 0:07:45.758,0:07:47.648 and even better, if you find 0:07:47.648,0:07:50.487 one cause particularly important, 0:07:50.487,0:07:54.607 by thinking about this one cause, 0:07:54.607,0:07:56.717 you solve many problems at once. 0:07:56.717,0:07:58.357 It's more intelligent 0:07:58.357,0:07:59.997 than treating the consequences. 0:07:59.997,0:08:01.250 But from what I see, 0:08:01.250,0:08:03.070 the people who came [br]before my wake up call, 0:08:03.070,0:08:05.080 while I was still a passive citizen, 0:08:05.080,0:08:06.767 all the old resistants, 0:08:06.767,0:08:09.337 those who spent [br]most of their lives resisting 0:08:09.337,0:08:10.908 very often, they resisted 0:08:10.908,0:08:13.378 focusing on the consequences. 0:08:13.378,0:08:14.378 Some resists 0:08:14.378,0:08:16.358 against ecological disasters. 0:08:16.358,0:08:20.358 Others against [br]the lack of democracy at work. 0:08:20.358,0:08:24.358 Others against the corruption[br]of the government. 0:08:24.358,0:08:28.358 There are associations, movements... 0:08:28.358,0:08:32.358 Some are against nuclear plants,[br]for example. 0:08:32.358,0:08:33.738 Etc... 0:08:36.358,0:08:38.588 And, I think, 0:08:38.588,0:08:42.688 - I'm like everyone else, [br]I have my own pet subject - 0:08:42.688,0:08:45.168 but I think that, 0:08:45.168,0:08:49.338 all those social injustices, 0:08:49.338,0:08:51.485 have one common cause, 0:08:51.485,0:08:53.375 which is the abuse of power. 0:08:53.375,0:08:55.095 I mean the possibility 0:08:55.095,0:08:57.815 for those who have the power,[br]to abuse of it. 0:08:57.815,0:09:01.181 It seems to me that [br]this is the common cause 0:09:01.181,0:09:03.791 So, I try to understand. 0:09:03.791,0:09:07.811 What allows people who have power 0:09:07.811,0:09:09.444 to abuse in this fashion 0:09:09.444,0:09:11.584 wihtout us being able to react? 0:09:11.584,0:09:16.462 Today, the states create for the banks 0:09:16.462,0:09:20.492 hundreds, thousands of billions 0:09:20.492,0:09:23.082 so that banks can themselves 0:09:23.082,0:09:27.082 lend it to us with interests. 0:09:27.082,0:09:31.532 And instead of lending to small companies, 0:09:34.123,0:09:37.733 or to citizen in needs, 0:09:37.733,0:09:40.623 this money goes in the pockets 0:09:40.623,0:09:42.483 of people super rich 0:09:42.483,0:09:44.533 who already have too much money. 0:09:44.533,0:09:46.513 And we can't do a thing to resist! 0:09:46.513,0:09:48.053 What can we do to resist? 0:09:48.053,0:09:49.423 I am not exaggerating. 0:09:49.423,0:09:51.473 Concretely, what can we do to resist? 0:09:51.473,0:09:54.363 Someone in the room :[br]'It's essential to sustain the banks... 0:09:54.363,0:09:56.373 so that they can allow for investments." 0:09:56.373,0:09:57.693 I do not agree. 0:09:57.693,0:10:01.343 In fact, when we will talk about money... 0:10:04.183,0:10:08.183 Your objections are absolutely[br]precious to me. 0:10:08.183,0:10:11.743 I mean, I need objections [br]to improve myself. 0:10:11.743,0:10:14.983 And objections, controversies [br]I'm experiencing since six years 0:10:14.983,0:10:16.823 make me progress very fast. 0:10:16.823,0:10:20.823 So I will definitely not remove [br]any of your objections 0:10:20.823,0:10:22.503 with the back of my hand 0:10:22.503,0:10:24.646 wihtout making the effort to prove 0:10:24.646,0:10:27.726 carefully and rationally 0:10:27.726,0:10:31.726 the points I defend in opposition to you. 0:10:32.616,0:10:35.116 When you say: 0:10:35.116,0:10:39.986 "We absolutely need to save the banks,[br]to support the banks" 0:10:39.986,0:10:43.986 Yes, but not unrequited. 0:10:43.986,0:10:45.946 Yes, but not without obligations. 0:10:45.946,0:10:48.366 Yes because if we give up on the banks, 0:10:48.366,0:10:50.336 the system falls and us with it. 0:10:50.336,0:10:51.356 Yes so in fact, 0:10:51.356,0:10:55.356 as Frederic Lordon, a friend, says 0:10:55.356,0:10:58.576 in fact, we need to support the banks. 0:10:58.576,0:11:00.576 Support our financial system. 0:11:00.576,0:11:03.296 But nothing, nothing obliges us 0:11:03.296,0:11:05.546 or obliges those who govern us 0:11:05.546,0:11:07.627 to do it unrequitedly. Nothing at all. 0:11:07.627,0:11:10.337 These people are in fraudulent bankruptcy. 0:11:10.337,0:11:12.917 The banks today are [br]in fraudulent bankruptcy. 0:11:12.917,0:11:14.977 Which means they should be in jail. 0:11:14.977,0:11:17.181 And instead we save them [br]without any compensations? 0:11:17.181,0:11:19.328 I find it more than questionable. 0:11:19.328,0:11:20.968 But we will come back to it if you want 0:11:20.968,0:11:23.298 when it will be the time [br]to talk about money. 0:11:23.298,0:11:25.268 Because I have many topics. 0:11:25.268,0:11:27.238 And I can talk about money now but 0:11:27.238,0:11:29.648 it seems to me[br]that there is a logical order. 0:11:29.648,0:11:32.418 I think we can start by observing 0:11:32.418,0:11:35.568 the way European Union works 0:11:35.570,0:11:37.930 and its malfunctions 0:11:37.930,0:11:39.740 as it is the topic of the evening. 0:11:39.740,0:11:42.020 What do we do with this European Union? 0:11:42.020,0:11:45.190 If we had to do it again, would we? 0:11:45.190,0:11:47.730 And, as we will study the European Union, 0:11:47.730,0:11:49.200 we will talk about money. 0:11:49.200,0:11:51.360 We will deepen the topic of money. 0:11:51.360,0:11:52.800 And I will tell you about 0:11:52.800,0:11:54.760 the mecanisms of monetary creation. 0:11:54.760,0:11:55.830 The way today 0:11:55.830,0:11:57.030 we create money 0:11:57.030,0:11:58.322 is... crazy! 0:11:58.322,0:11:59.672 Really not reasonable. 0:11:59.672,0:12:01.022 And it's not the only way to do it. 0:12:01.022,0:12:02.742 There are alternatives. 0:12:02.742,0:12:05.142 We could create the money [br]in a different way. 0:12:05.142,0:12:06.822 With risks that we need to understand 0:12:06.822,0:12:08.722 and which we will talk about. 0:12:08.722,0:12:11.772 But risks which should not lead us 0:12:11.772,0:12:13.532 to give up reclaiming 0:12:13.532,0:12:15.592 the process of monetary creation. 0:12:15.592,0:12:18.132 But I suggest that we will talk [br]about it a little bit later. 0:12:18.132,0:12:21.082 To avoid talking about everything[br]at the same time. 0:12:21.082,0:12:23.362 But, everytime, which would be good 0:12:23.362,0:12:25.222 is that I could tell you 0:12:25.222,0:12:28.222 where I am with my analysis. [br]The work I am doing. 0:12:28.222,0:12:29.362 And then I stop. 0:12:29.362,0:12:31.082 Even if I haven't said everything. 0:12:31.082,0:12:33.182 Because if I say everything I have to say, 0:12:33.182,0:12:35.822 I could talk about it days on end[br]without stopping 0:12:35.822,0:12:37.722 So, I won't to tell you everything. 0:12:37.722,0:12:40.112 That I stop and let you talk. 0:12:41.090,0:12:42.800 And a good part 0:12:42.800,0:12:44.240 of what I have to tell you, 0:12:44.240,0:12:46.950 I express it in reaction [br]to your objections, 0:12:46.950,0:12:48.821 your fears, your suggestions. 0:12:48.821,0:12:51.111 And also because, for me, it is precious. 0:12:51.111,0:12:52.811 I come looking for this as well. 0:12:52.811,0:12:54.291 Which means you will 0:12:54.291,0:12:56.251 most certainly bring me 0:12:56.252,0:12:57.272 a lot of things 0:12:57.272,0:12:59.382 through new objections, a new idea. 0:12:59.382,0:13:00.972 Almost at every conference 0:13:00.972,0:13:03.682 I come out with a good, [br]a really good idea. 0:13:03.682,0:13:06.652 Which will help me. Which I cultivate.[br]Which I work on. 0:13:06.652,0:13:08.832 Someone in the room : [br]"Dialogue is essential...." 0:13:08.832,0:13:11.152 Absolutely! Dialogue is[br]absolutely essential. 0:13:11.152,0:13:12.352 There is a sentence 0:13:12.352,0:13:14.072 which I discovered last week 0:13:14.072,0:13:15.522 which says it differently. 0:13:15.522,0:13:18.792 Which says "I need my enemies". 0:13:18.792,0:13:21.292 It's really well said, I believe. 0:13:21.292,0:13:23.864 It's true that I need my opponents. 0:13:23.864,0:13:26.244 I need my opponents to move forward. 0:13:26.244,0:13:27.965 And I also need my friends. 0:13:27.965,0:13:29.785 Who disagree with me on certain topics. 0:13:29.785,0:13:31.265 And who contradict me on those. 0:13:31.265,0:13:33.293 I love controversy. 0:13:33.293,0:13:36.153 here, I think I never progress as much 0:13:36.153,0:13:39.133 as during a contradictory debate 0:13:39.133,0:13:40.753 where we do not agree. 0:13:40.753,0:13:43.542 And sometimes I realize that I was wrong. 0:13:43.542,0:13:45.912 That I had a wrong angle, [br]and I correct it. 0:13:45.912,0:13:47.344 Sometimes I manage to show 0:13:47.344,0:13:49.424 that it's my opponent [br]that had a wrong angle. 0:13:49.428,0:13:50.728 And here we discuss. 0:13:50.728,0:13:52.578 My goal is not be right. 0:13:52.578,0:13:54.978 I am looking for... the greater good. 0:13:54.978,0:13:57.908 And most of the resistants too. 0:13:57.908,0:14:00.758 We all have our method, our tools. 0:14:00.758,0:14:04.158 I think that people who are looking [br]for social justice, 0:14:04.158,0:14:06.588 out of good faith, should be able [br]to get along. 0:14:06.588,0:14:08.318 If they disagree on 0:14:08.318,0:14:09.638 the means to reach 0:14:09.638,0:14:10.848 social justice, 0:14:10.848,0:14:12.698 I think they should be capable 0:14:12.698,0:14:14.898 to discuss it respectfully. 0:14:14.898,0:14:16.598 By trying to take the best 0:14:16.598,0:14:18.271 of the other's thinking process. 0:14:18.271,0:14:20.331 We just need to give ourselves time. 0:14:20.331,0:14:21.771 And actually it is good 0:14:21.771,0:14:23.181 that we have time tonight. 0:14:23.181,0:14:25.731 Because these are real rich [br]and dense topics. 0:14:25.731,0:14:27.991 On which we have much to say. 0:14:27.991,0:14:29.511 It's good to have time 0:14:29.511,0:14:31.164 to develop them 0:14:33.474,0:14:36.366 I handed out 0:14:36.366,0:14:38.216 a first double-sided document . 0:14:38.216,0:14:40.166 A simple sheet on which... 0:14:40.166,0:14:42.176 You will see I have brought 0:14:42.176,0:14:43.486 a lot of documents. 0:14:43.486,0:14:45.866 Because I am a teacher. 0:14:45.866,0:14:48.306 And so, I am used to... 0:14:50.916,0:14:54.916 Not saying everything. 0:14:54.916,0:14:58.916 And at the same time to see [br]that people who listen to me 0:14:58.916,0:15:01.350 are not always so focused. 0:15:01.350,0:15:03.950 And I am the same, we are all like this. 0:15:03.950,0:15:07.950 And can miss an important moment 0:15:07.950,0:15:11.230 which we lack, later,[br]from the whole reasoning. 0:15:11.230,0:15:14.350 The good way to overcome[br]these difficulties 0:15:14.350,0:15:15.940 to communicate orally 0:15:15.940,0:15:18.800 is to have a written support, [br]which sets [the topics] well. 0:15:18.800,0:15:21.120 [A document] prepared in advance 0:15:21.120,0:15:23.490 and on which we are sure[br]we haven't forgotten anything. 0:15:23.490,0:15:26.320 I am not going to read this document 0:15:26.320,0:15:28.300 but I invite you to read it calmly 0:15:28.300,0:15:29.610 at your leisure, later. 0:15:29.610,0:15:31.500 They will surely be some things 0:15:31.500,0:15:34.200 which I would have forgotten[br]to tell you tonight. 0:15:34.200,0:15:35.530 But it's not important. 0:15:35.530,0:15:36.790 You'll find it in the document. 0:15:36.790,0:15:39.590 And then, there are things I'll have said 0:15:39.590,0:15:41.410 that I won't have pronounced well 0:15:41.410,0:15:43.270 or on which I won't have insisted on enough 0:15:43.270,0:15:45.390 which you might not have understood... 0:15:45.390,0:15:48.040 And which you will understand[br]maybe better by reading. 0:15:48.040,0:15:50.250 This first page 0:15:51.030,0:15:52.480 It is a sort of summary 0:15:52.480,0:15:55.710 of what leads me to think [br]about this topic. 0:15:56.450,0:15:57.840 About the solution 0:15:57.840,0:16:05.050 the institutional solution [br]that I plan or see 0:16:09.561,0:16:13.561 In this first page,[br]there is this introduction 0:16:13.561,0:16:15.471 which I made earlier 0:16:15.471,0:16:18.591 and which explains men [br]have always needed power. 0:16:18.591,0:16:21.261 Have always confronted power abuses. 0:16:21.261,0:16:24.751 Invented in order to resist [br]the idea of constitution. 0:16:24.751,0:16:27.431 That a constitution is not used[br]to organise powers, 0:16:27.431,0:16:29.711 it is used to weaken them. 0:16:30.901,0:16:32.991 It is used to weaken them. 0:16:32.991,0:16:34.921 And so, in a constitution, 0:16:34.921,0:16:37.171 if we seek to weaken the power, 0:16:37.171,0:16:38.951 if we don't seek to destroy it, 0:16:38.951,0:16:40.531 we need the power... 0:16:40.531,0:16:41.941 But we seek to weaken it 0:16:41.941,0:16:43.551 so that they don't abuse of it. 0:16:43.551,0:16:45.961 So that our servants don't become [br]our masters. 0:16:45.961,0:16:48.721 So that we don't become[br]the prey of tyrants. 0:16:49.507,0:16:52.387 And so that the constitution does its' job 0:16:52.387,0:16:53.967 of power weakening 0:16:53.974,0:16:57.134 while still having itself [br]enough power to work, 0:16:57.138,0:16:59.468 there is a whole serie of measurements, 0:16:59.468,0:17:02.858 rules, articles in the constitutions, 0:17:02.858,0:17:05.335 of principles which we would like[br]to see applied 0:17:05.335,0:17:08.105 which I have detailed at the back[br]of this document. 0:17:08.105,0:17:12.105 At the back of this document, [br]I have made a list. 0:17:12.105,0:17:14.825 We will not have the time[br]to work on it this evening 0:17:14.825,0:17:15.645 Maybe later 0:17:15.645,0:17:17.745 we will work on two, three, four points. 0:17:17.745,0:17:19.365 Maybe points on which 0:17:19.365,0:17:21.695 you would like... maybe during the break, 0:17:21.695,0:17:23.385 you could have a look at it. 0:17:23.385,0:17:25.371 If there are points on [br]which you would like to address, 0:17:25.371,0:17:26.661 we could deepen them. 0:17:26.661,0:17:28.466 "But why is he talking about this?" 0:17:28.466,0:17:30.636 or "Hey, he forgot to talk about that..." 0:17:30.636,0:17:33.946 All of this, in my thinking process, [br]is not closed at all. 0:17:33.946,0:17:36.547 I am still thinking about it. 0:17:37.175,0:17:39.895 I find ideas every day. 0:17:40.576,0:17:43.296 I am totally open to criticism, 0:17:43.296,0:17:45.576 to evolution, to new ideas. 0:17:46.975,0:17:48.745 I am not at all 0:17:48.745,0:17:52.745 describing a turn-key solution, 0:17:52.745,0:17:54.785 a sort of new dogma or religion. 0:17:54.785,0:17:56.435 Not at all. 0:17:57.003,0:17:59.263 Simply, I beleive 0:17:59.263,0:18:02.035 that I'm educating myself to 0:18:02.035,0:18:03.795 "What is a constitution?" 0:18:03.795,0:18:06.785 How come we are not [br]taking care of it? 0:18:06.785,0:18:10.077 Why is it that we have not seized it, [br]everyone of us, 0:18:10.083,0:18:13.383 we who consent to obey to power, 0:18:13.383,0:18:15.703 why have we not seized this tool? 0:18:15.703,0:18:17.803 And what should we know in this tool 0:18:17.803,0:18:19.354 instead of neglecting it ? 0:18:19.354,0:18:21.574 And while I am making it mine, 0:18:21.574,0:18:23.464 as I am a teacher, I like to explain, 0:18:23.464,0:18:24.924 well, I make the most of it ! 0:18:24.924,0:18:26.364 Moreover, I had the chance in 2005 0:18:26.364,0:18:28.464 to have this kind of unbelievable fame 0:18:28.464,0:18:30.534 which came from Internet 0:18:30.534,0:18:32.234 and of the game of the medias. 0:18:32.234,0:18:33.624 Well, I make the most of it. 0:18:33.624,0:18:35.214 It gives me the standing. 0:18:35.214,0:18:36.434 So I make the most of it. 0:18:36.434,0:18:37.804 I am discovering something. 0:18:37.804,0:18:39.674 It seems that I am finding an idea, 0:18:39.674,0:18:43.184 a series of ideas, [br]which are at the same time original 0:18:43.188,0:18:47.688 and very old, [br]because they date of 2500 years, 0:18:47.688,0:18:50.178 but completely buried, [br]forgotten and brilliant. 0:18:50.178,0:18:51.868 Really, athenians had found 0:18:51.868,0:18:53.148 something marvellous 0:18:53.148,0:18:55.148 to protect themselves from power thieves. 0:18:55.148,0:18:58.422 I turning around this idea. 0:19:03.802,0:19:06.022 Testing it with fire. 0:19:06.022,0:19:09.202 To the fire of your critics [br]and objections. 0:19:09.202,0:19:10.402 To check if it holds [true]. 0:19:10.406,0:19:12.376 That it still makes sense. 0:19:12.376,0:19:14.788 It's not a dogma at all. 0:19:14.788,0:19:16.008 It's an idea which is... 0:19:16.015,0:19:18.125 Which is becoming stronger. 0:19:18.125,0:19:25.837 You will see that the idea[br]of real democracy 0:19:25.837,0:19:30.247 possible and protected, by selection through lots. 0:19:30.262,0:19:33.942 You will see that it is seducing. 0:19:33.942,0:19:35.682 It is very promising. 0:19:40.449,0:19:42.909 Sortition, I saw it coming. 0:19:42.909,0:19:44.369 I will speak about it a little now, 0:19:44.369,0:19:46.159 and a lot more at the end of the evening, 0:19:46.159,0:19:47.819 when we will see democracy. 0:19:47.819,0:19:48.639 How it works. 0:19:48.639,0:19:50.299 How it worked in Athens. 0:19:50.299,0:19:51.849 And what should we reuse? 0:19:51.849,0:19:53.369 What can we reuse? 0:19:53.369,0:19:55.081 We will see this more in details. 0:19:55.081,0:19:58.881 But very quickly in fact, in 2005 0:20:01.871,0:20:05.141 while studying the European institutions, 0:20:05.531,0:20:06.771 I wondered 0:20:06.771,0:20:08.731 "But how could we write 0:20:09.892,0:20:11.572 such bad institutions, 0:20:11.572,0:20:14.732 so unprotective for citizens?" 0:20:16.665,0:20:19.505 Because, it will be[br]the first part of the evening. 0:20:19.505,0:20:22.015 We will work or I suggest we work 0:20:22.015,0:20:26.795 on the main grievances that I find. 0:20:26.795,0:20:30.795 It is a first stone in the debate. 0:20:30.795,0:20:33.525 I don't mean to summarize it all. 0:20:33.525,0:20:35.915 But what I consider [br]like the most important 0:20:35.915,0:20:37.915 to hold against the European institutions. 0:20:37.916,0:20:39.566 We'll see this in not too long. 0:20:39.566,0:20:41.806 But already, before looking at the detail, 0:20:41.806,0:20:45.806 if you have participated[br]to the 2005 debate, 0:20:45.806,0:20:47.818 you will remember that there was 0:20:47.818,0:20:49.848 a lot to say about this constitution. 0:20:49.848,0:20:52.398 And as I was thinking, 0:20:52.398,0:20:54.548 I was wondering... still the same 0:20:54.548,0:20:56.538 I was looking for "the cause of causes". 0:20:56.538,0:20:58.418 But what led us to 0:20:58.418,0:21:01.418 texts so unprotective of men? 0:21:01.418,0:21:03.652 So pretentious? 0:21:03.652,0:21:05.962 Texts which pretend to protect us 0:21:05.962,0:21:07.502 pretend to establish... 0:21:07.502,0:21:08.562 what did they say?... 0:21:08.562,0:21:11.452 "The highest standards of democracy"[br]they said. 0:21:11.891,0:21:14.651 And in the same time organised, 0:21:14.651,0:21:16.838 in the most minor detail, 0:21:16.838,0:21:19.097 the perfect politic powerlessness 0:21:19.097,0:21:20.187 of every citizen 0:21:20.187,0:21:22.827 who couldn't change a thing anymore. 0:21:23.949,0:21:27.136 I thought : "How did we come to this?" 0:21:27.136,0:21:29.176 In fact, by answering this question 0:21:29.176,0:21:31.726 I answered to all the questions of [br]the same nature 0:21:31.727,0:21:34.347 which I could encounter [br]at a national level as well. 0:21:34.347,0:21:37.157 Because what we encounter [br]at the European level, 0:21:37.157,0:21:38.797 this political powerlessness 0:21:38.797,0:21:40.487 which is organised[br]in the European institutions. 0:21:40.487,0:21:42.337 We already encounter it [br]at a national level. 0:21:42.337,0:21:43.787 And we encounter it... 0:21:43.787,0:21:47.173 in almost every country of the world. 0:21:47.762,0:21:49.762 So, is it a fatality? 0:21:49.762,0:21:53.154 Or is there a common cause? 0:21:54.409,0:21:56.519 Which leads us to understand why 0:21:56.519,0:21:58.029 it always happen like this 0:21:58.029,0:22:00.319 and which would lead us to understand 0:22:00.319,0:22:01.889 what should we change for 0:22:01.889,0:22:03.609 it not to always happen like this. 0:22:03.609,0:22:05.169 And I think I found it. 0:22:05.169,0:22:07.542 The European institutions[br]have been written 0:22:07.542,0:22:09.922 by ministers... and presidents. 0:22:12.210,0:22:15.100 And we see this everywhere[br]in the European institutions 0:22:15.100,0:22:17.655 that it is ministers [br]who wrote the institutions. 0:22:17.655,0:22:20.435 In the European institutions 0:22:20.435,0:22:24.435 legislative power is vested in 0:22:24.435,0:22:27.165 the ministers, mainly. 0:22:28.383,0:22:30.503 Our ministers at national level 0:22:30.503,0:22:33.053 who take off their minister costumes 0:22:33.053,0:22:34.925 when they leave France 0:22:34.925,0:22:37.475 to go to the European parliament 0:22:37.475,0:22:39.355 to go in the European institutions 0:22:39.356,0:22:42.636 And there they put [br]on their parliamentary costumes 0:22:42.640,0:22:44.660 but they are ministers! 0:22:44.670,0:22:47.869 They put their parliamentary costumes [br]to write laws. 0:22:47.869,0:22:49.649 The European laws. 0:22:49.649,0:22:53.200 Which are transposed in the French law,[br]or in national law. 0:22:53.200,0:22:55.130 It is the same in all the countries. 0:22:55.130,0:22:57.285 Almost mechanically, automatically. 0:22:57.285,0:22:59.685 And then they go back in their countries, 0:22:59.685,0:23:02.795 and they put back [br]their ministers costumes. 0:23:04.295,0:23:07.960 And we can see that they wrote the rules. 0:23:07.960,0:23:12.070 We will come back on the detail 0:23:12.070,0:23:15.210 of all the great risks[br]in the European institutions. 0:23:15.210,0:23:17.534 But we can see 0:23:17.534,0:23:19.620 that it is European ministers 0:23:19.620,0:23:21.826 who wrote the European institutions. 0:23:21.826,0:23:24.556 In the same way [br]that the French institutions, 0:23:24.556,0:23:26.446 the constitution of 1958, we can see 0:23:26.446,0:23:29.256 that it is De Gaulles [1st president of [br]the 5th Republic] who wrote it. 0:23:29.256,0:23:30.784 I am told: "it's Debré." 0:23:30.784,0:23:33.644 Yes it is Debré, but Debré,[br]he wrote it for De Gaulle. 0:23:33.644,0:23:35.551 Lawyers, the great lawyers, 0:23:35.551,0:23:37.201 the great teachers of public law 0:23:37.201,0:23:39.511 who wrote apparently the institutions[br]of the fifth republic... [wrote it for De Gaule] 0:23:39.511,0:23:41.557 But we can see everywhere 0:23:41.557,0:23:43.961 that the institutions of the fifth [br]are not made 0:23:43.961,0:23:46.011 like those of the fourth or of [br]the third [republic]. 0:23:46.011,0:23:48.111 They were made for the president 0:23:48.111,0:23:51.201 who built them for himself. 0:23:51.201,0:23:56.496 It's like this almost everywhere[br]in the world. 0:23:56.496,0:23:59.930 And that's why in fact... 0:24:01.010,0:24:03.460 Men who hold power should not 0:24:03.460,0:24:05.500 write the rules that control power. 0:24:05.776,0:24:07.636 That's how I summarise it. 0:24:07.636,0:24:09.076 It is with these words 0:24:09.076,0:24:10.976 that I summarise the "heart of the heart" 0:24:10.976,0:24:13.296 The most important thing [br]I have to tell you. 0:24:13.296,0:24:15.866 It seems to me that this is [br]the cause of causes 0:24:15.866,0:24:17.976 of our political powerlessness. 0:24:17.982,0:24:20.652 It is that we have no constitution. 0:24:20.936,0:24:23.286 The declaration of human rights 0:24:23.286,0:24:26.856 which our revolutionary forefathers [wrote]. 0:24:27.930,0:24:30.040 We need to read[br]the constitutional debates. 0:24:30.040,0:24:31.890 The debates that had those people 0:24:31.890,0:24:33.630 in the moment where they freed themselves 0:24:33.640,0:24:35.200 from the former tyranny 0:24:35.200,0:24:36.780 and where they made a tool 0:24:36.780,0:24:38.200 to protect themselves against tyranny. 0:24:38.200,0:24:41.073 The thoughts, the discussions they had. 0:24:41.073,0:24:43.243 The thoughts they had 0:24:43.243,0:24:44.503 to protect durably 0:24:44.503,0:24:45.753 against power abuse. 0:24:45.753,0:24:47.733 That was the french revolution! 0:24:48.936,0:24:52.256 There are absolutely [br]fascinating discussions. 0:24:52.262,0:24:54.622 And they knew very well 0:24:54.622,0:24:56.032 that we had to weaken power. 0:24:56.032,0:24:57.887 Montesquieu thought about it before 0:24:57.887,0:25:01.865 and revolutionnary knew [br]of course Montesquieu, Rousseau... 0:25:01.865,0:25:04.045 They knew they had to divide powers 0:25:04.047,0:25:06.577 for the power not to abuse of power. 0:25:06.577,0:25:08.227 Montesquieu said : "We need 0:25:08.227,0:25:09.527 power to stop power." 0:25:09.527,0:25:11.767 Which means that we needed ... 0:25:11.767,0:25:14.227 and Montesquieu imagined[br]only three powers. 0:25:14.227,0:25:15.737 He had seen: 0:25:15.737,0:25:17.407 - those who made the laws: the parliament 0:25:17.407,0:25:19.165 - those who execute the laws:[br]the executives 0:25:19.165,0:25:20.940 - and those who settle conflicts 0:25:20.940,0:25:23.500 those who apply the rules: the judges. 0:25:23.500,0:25:26.971 And he said, we need [br]that those who write the laws 0:25:26.971,0:25:30.541 the parliamentarians, [br]do not put them in force. 0:25:31.131,0:25:35.091 That those who put laws in application,[br]the executives 0:25:35.091,0:25:36.591 You shouldn't say government[br][in this case] 0:25:36.591,0:25:39.031 Because if you say government, [br]you get scammed. 0:25:39.031,0:25:40.601 Otherwise it will do everything, [br]it is going to write the laws. 0:25:40.601,0:25:42.991 If [the executives] are called government,[br]then the government holds in itself, 0:25:42.991,0:25:45.675 the word holds in itself, [br]the confusion of the powers. 0:25:45.675,0:25:47.965 We shouldn't call them government. 0:25:47.965,0:25:49.875 We shouldn't accept "one" government. 0:25:49.875,0:25:52.405 Call it the executive. 0:25:52.652,0:25:55.502 And you will see that the word leads you 0:25:55.502,0:25:56.872 to be more rigorous with 0:25:56.872,0:25:59.292 the essential principle of [br]powers division. 0:25:59.292,0:26:02.022 An essential principle for us [br]to protect us from power abuse. 0:26:02.022,0:26:03.692 So what Montesquieu said is that 0:26:03.692,0:26:07.602 the executive executes without having [br]the right to writing [laws]. 0:26:07.602,0:26:08.967 Without writing... 0:26:09.793,0:26:12.513 Because 1) if the one who writes the laws 0:26:12.513,0:26:13.963 cannot execute them, 0:26:13.963,0:26:15.463 2) if the one that executes the laws 0:26:15.463,0:26:16.623 cannot write them, 0:26:16.623,0:26:18.541 do you understand the idea? 0:26:18.541,0:26:20.053 It is a clever idea 0:26:20.053,0:26:22.333 to divide powers. 0:26:22.843,0:26:24.273 Very clever! 0:26:24.273,0:26:26.983 It allows, for a constitutional structure, 0:26:26.983,0:26:30.674 in the superior law structure, 0:26:30.674,0:26:32.084 of the right of law, 0:26:32.084,0:26:34.204 above those who will make the law, 0:26:34.204,0:26:38.204 it allows for our protection. 0:26:38.204,0:26:42.084 Because nobody has[br]all the powers for himself. 0:26:43.304,0:26:45.424 And then Montesquieu continued 0:26:45.429,0:26:48.949 saying that judges must be independant 0:26:48.949,0:26:50.669 from the two other powers 0:26:50.669,0:26:52.379 to be able to apply the laws. 0:26:52.379,0:26:55.379 Therefore, for the law to be applied 0:26:55.379,0:26:59.379 It had to be that the one [br]who writes the laws 0:26:59.379,0:27:01.309 agrees with the one who executes the laws 0:27:01.309,0:27:05.349 and agrees with the one who applies them: the judge. 0:27:05.349,0:27:08.831 We would be well sheltered 0:27:08.831,0:27:10.931 against power abuse if we do that. 0:27:10.931,0:27:13.768 What the revolutionnaries said 0:27:13.768,0:27:16.168 in the declaration of human rights 0:27:16.168,0:27:22.464 is that: "A nation [br]which does not divide powers 0:27:22.464,0:27:24.821 doesn't have a constitution." 0:27:24.821,0:27:27.265 It is the article 16. 0:27:27.265,0:27:31.245 A nation which doesn't divide powers 0:27:31.245,0:27:33.495 does not have a constitution. 0:27:33.495,0:27:35.201 We cannot be clearer! 0:27:35.201,0:27:37.651 It means that if we pretend [br]to having one, it's false. 0:27:37.651,0:27:40.091 And it's true... I believe it is true! 0:27:40.091,0:27:42.248 I will even say better for today. 0:27:42.251,0:27:45.271 In the twenty first century [br]we can push a little further, 0:27:45.271,0:27:46.951 we can think further, 0:27:46.951,0:27:51.637 and say : "A constitution [br]which does not protect us well 0:27:51.637,0:27:55.598 - either because of the undivided powers 0:27:55.598,0:27:57.368 or because of something else - 0:27:57.374,0:27:59.914 a constitution [br]which does not protect us well 0:27:59.914,0:28:01.714 against power abuses 0:28:01.714,0:28:03.376 is not a constitution! 0:28:03.376,0:28:06.086 Because its job, its reason of existance 0:28:06.086,0:28:10.266 Because a constitution is used [br]only for that! 0:28:10.266,0:28:12.142 To protect us all, 0:28:12.142,0:28:14.172 the rich, the poor, the young, [br]the old, everyone 0:28:14.172,0:28:16.032 to protect us against power abuse. 0:28:16.032,0:28:17.982 As the definition itself 0:28:17.982,0:28:19.792 the essence of a constitution 0:28:19.792,0:28:21.922 is to protect us from power abuse. 0:28:21.922,0:28:23.362 If it doesn't do its job 0:28:23.362,0:28:25.262 it is not a constitution! 0:28:25.262,0:28:29.097 Or it's a bad constitution 0:28:31.184,0:28:35.184 From this point of view, [br]the fifth [republic] is really bad. 0:28:35.184,0:28:36.954 It is a bad constitution 0:28:36.954,0:28:39.474 and the European constitution is bad too! 0:28:39.474,0:28:41.454 We can talk about it in details. 0:28:41.454,0:28:43.004 I am starting from the end 0:28:43.004,0:28:44.464 by telling you the conclusion. 0:28:44.464,0:28:47.564 It's not well but we can have a look... 0:28:48.064,0:28:51.214 Article by article, almost. 0:28:51.952,0:28:54.722 So it is in fact the meaning [br]of the document 0:28:54.722,0:28:57.732 the back of the first document[br]that I am talking about, 0:28:57.732,0:29:00.503 consists in saying : [br]"let's see where we stand... 0:29:00.503,0:29:02.603 what do we expect from a constitution?" 0:29:02.607,0:29:04.367 By which mechanical ways, 0:29:04.367,0:29:05.827 which legal ways, 0:29:05.827,0:29:07.777 A constitution protects me? 0:29:07.777,0:29:09.983 "Protects me", I am not talking [br]about me obviously 0:29:09.994,0:29:12.044 I talk in a general way, as "me citizen" 0:29:12.044,0:29:15.215 By which means a constitution protects me? 0:29:15.215,0:29:19.215 The parliament ... "Is above others" 0:29:19.215,0:29:21.725 "The voting system secures a majority" 0:29:21.725,0:29:24.065 "The voting system gives[br]a place to the minority" 0:29:24.065,0:29:26.375 "Some seats are reserved...." 0:29:26.375,0:29:28.785 So you will see, in there, that 0:29:28.785,0:29:30.485 some things are a little unorthodox 0:29:30.485,0:29:31.935 because, when I say "Some seats 0:29:31.935,0:29:33.895 of every organs are reserved 0:29:33.895,0:29:35.995 to sorted citizens," 0:29:38.936,0:29:42.416 Every single line could deserve[br]to be studied. 0:29:42.416,0:29:44.686 If I start digging into this, 0:29:44.687,0:29:46.937 it is going to be too long and[br]it mustn't be. 0:29:46.937,0:29:49.200 But what I wanted, I did a table there 0:29:49.200,0:29:51.610 with, to the right, some boxes to tick 0:29:51.610,0:29:54.360 and when I examinate [br]my constitution : I tick 0:29:54.360,0:29:56.320 Do I have it? Or not? 0:29:56.320,0:29:58.647 And then I tick yes/no, yes/no, yes/no 0:29:58.647,0:30:02.647 And for the fifth, I have very few "yes" 0:30:02.647,0:30:04.747 very very few, there is almost only "no" 0:30:04.747,0:30:07.197 and for European institutions,[br]I only have "no" 0:30:07.197,0:30:08.995 virtually only "no".... 0:30:08.995,0:30:11.115 There is no respect for blank vote... 0:30:11.115,0:30:13.445 There is no referendum of [br]popular initiative 0:30:13.445,0:30:15.445 There is no power division 0:30:15.445,0:30:17.205 There is no... etc, etc... 0:30:17.220,0:30:19.430 Judges are not independant. 0:30:19.430,0:30:21.296 Every single one of these points... 0:30:21.296,0:30:23.646 If you want, when we talk about democracy 0:30:23.646,0:30:25.675 When we talk about democracy... 0:30:25.675,0:30:28.275 When we talk about constitution... 0:30:28.629,0:30:30.539 I do not just say words. 0:30:30.539,0:30:31.869 It's not enough to say: 0:30:31.869,0:30:35.869 " European institutions are [br]the highest standard of democracy". 0:30:35.869,0:30:38.449 I go check inside[br]the European institutions 0:30:38.449,0:30:39.819 to see tangibly 0:30:39.819,0:30:41.459 what is the apparatus 0:30:41.459,0:30:44.362 which allows to say "it is a democracy". 0:30:44.362,0:30:48.482 However, for me, democracy,[br]I don't know for you... 0:30:48.482,0:30:50.962 It's a debate but for me[br]it is "demos kratos." 0:30:50.962,0:30:52.262 The power of the people. 0:30:52.262,0:30:54.222 So, the people should have the power. 0:30:54.223,0:30:56.253 People should exercise the power. 0:30:56.253,0:30:58.278 Democracy : people exercise power. 0:30:58.278,0:31:02.278 And at least, there is none 0:31:02.278,0:31:04.498 on earth, there is none 0:31:04.498,0:31:06.208 very few, maybe... Switzerland 0:31:06.208,0:31:09.068 And still, not even, in Switzerland [br]there are parlementaries 0:31:09.068,0:31:11.468 So there is no country[br]in the world for now 0:31:11.468,0:31:16.368 where the people writes himself [br]directly his laws. 0:31:18.947,0:31:21.767 In most of [political] regimes, 0:31:22.645,0:31:24.385 and we will see it later, 0:31:24.385,0:31:25.565 most regimes 0:31:25.565,0:31:26.955 are not democracies. 0:31:26.959,0:31:28.789 They are representative governments 0:31:28.789,0:31:30.259 And you will see, as we talk about it, 0:31:30.259,0:31:31.879 I will explain the history 0:31:31.879,0:31:32.684 and this is very important 0:31:32.684,0:31:34.894 to understand the regimes we have. 0:31:34.894,0:31:36.464 The story of our regimes. 0:31:36.464,0:31:40.583 What did the people who instituted[br]our regimes want? 0:31:40.583,0:31:42.793 They didn't want to make a democracy, [br]not at all. 0:31:42.793,0:31:44.373 They knew very well what was a democracy. 0:31:44.373,0:31:45.753 They didn't want it at all. 0:31:45.753,0:31:47.363 So it is normal that we are not[br]in democracy. 0:31:47.363,0:31:50.519 It was not wished for at all [br]from the beginning. 0:31:50.519,0:31:55.589 Sieyès, a great thinker of [br]french revolution 0:31:55.589,0:31:58.149 wrote one day:[br]" What is the third estate?" 0:31:58.149,0:32:02.329 One of the notables [br]who followed all the french revolution 0:32:02.329,0:32:05.195 until Thermidor... 0:32:05.551,0:32:09.551 He was someone who didn't want....[br]it is written black on white! 0:32:09.551,0:32:10.953 "There is no way that..." 0:32:10.953,0:32:12.773 In one of the documents[br]that I'll hand out 0:32:12.773,0:32:14.353 there is the full quote 0:32:14.353,0:32:16.626 "There is no way that France [br]shall become a democracy" 0:32:16.626,0:32:19.486 It is not going to be it, [br]we are not making a democracy 0:32:19.486,0:32:22.002 People is not able[br]to write himself the laws 0:32:22.002,0:32:24.442 People will designate his representatives 0:32:24.442,0:32:27.862 who will write the laws [br]in its stead and that's all! 0:32:28.693,0:32:30.743 Well, this is not a democracy. 0:32:30.743,0:32:33.253 It is something else, it's an artistocracy 0:32:33.253,0:32:35.000 it's the government by the best. 0:32:35.000,0:32:37.550 If we manage to put [br]the best of the best in power 0:32:37.550,0:32:38.560 it's an aristocracy. 0:32:38.560,0:32:40.500 But, if they are not the best of[br]the best, it is going to be an oligarchy. 0:32:40.500,0:32:42.110 But in any way, it is not a democracy! 0:32:42.110,0:32:44.610 And this is really our topic of later on. 0:32:44.610,0:32:46.500 So I close this parenthesis 0:32:46.500,0:32:54.450 to stay in the scheme of the first part [br]of european union 0:32:57.302,0:33:00.922 So, to finish this introduction 0:33:00.922,0:33:04.922 the reflexion on the european institutions[br]in 2005 0:33:04.922,0:33:06.662 led me immediately 0:33:06.662,0:33:08.330 to [write] the first document. 0:33:08.330,0:33:11.130 The one that toured France and[br]also a little around the world. 0:33:11.130,0:33:13.770 I wrote my conclusion: 0:33:13.770,0:33:19.590 "If such bad institutions have been written, 0:33:19.590,0:33:23.327 it is because those who wrote them 0:33:23.327,0:33:25.087 shouldn't have done so. 0:33:25.087,0:33:27.027 It should not have been them[br]writing the constitutions. 0:33:27.027,0:33:29.446 It should not have been them[br]writing the institutions. 0:33:29.446,0:33:31.236 They were judges and jury. 0:33:31.236,0:33:33.056 They were in a situation of conflict[br]of interests. 0:33:33.056,0:33:35.276 They were writing the rules for themselves. 0:33:35.480,0:33:38.560 And there, I am on the "cause of causes". 0:33:38.561,0:33:40.933 I am on the first cause of causes. 0:33:40.933,0:33:43.659 If you let, if we let, [br]the constitutions be written 0:33:43.659,0:33:46.179 by exactly those who should fear them; 0:33:46.196,0:33:49.206 If we let the constitution be written 0:33:49.206,0:33:52.686 by those who should fear constitution; 0:33:54.146,0:33:56.696 It is easy to understand 0:33:56.696,0:34:00.745 these people will not, write rules [br]which will hinder them 0:34:00.745,0:34:03.821 burden them, keep them under control,[br]threaten them 0:34:03.821,0:34:04.931 put them at risk 0:34:04.931,0:34:06.801 make them "accountable for" 0:34:06.802,0:34:08.522 make them responsible of their acts. 0:34:08.522,0:34:10.862 These people... But I am not angry at them 0:34:10.862,0:34:13.312 I don't say they are horrible people. 0:34:13.312,0:34:15.907 This is something important. 0:34:15.907,0:34:21.508 Under the law, a judge has to give justice. 0:34:21.508,0:34:24.520 But, when in a court case, 0:34:24.520,0:34:27.319 he is from the same family of the victim 0:34:27.319,0:34:31.319 or of the detained or the accused, 0:34:31.319,0:34:33.969 he is recused / disqualified. 0:34:33.969,0:34:36.182 And this isn't an issue. 0:34:36.182,0:34:37.192 That's how it is 0:34:37.192,0:34:39.222 in all the countries of [br]the world obviously. 0:34:39.222,0:34:40.852 And everyone understands 0:34:40.852,0:34:43.152 that we are not saying [br]this judge is dishonest. 0:34:43.152,0:34:45.952 Not at all! [br]When we disqualify a judge 0:34:45.952,0:34:47.742 because he is from the same family 0:34:47.742,0:34:50.272 of the victim or the accused, 0:34:50.272,0:34:52.345 it is not because he is dishonest. 0:34:52.345,0:34:55.705 It is because, he cannot, in this very situation, 0:34:55.705,0:34:57.015 he cannot be honest. 0:34:57.015,0:34:59.783 But we don't say this guy there[br]is dishonest, not at all! 0:34:59.783,0:35:01.656 In fact, the judge is disqualified 0:35:01.656,0:35:03.756 and he is not upset about it. 0:35:03.756,0:35:05.499 There is no issue. 0:35:05.499,0:35:07.810 He is in a situation of [br]conflict of interests 0:35:07.810,0:35:09.890 so he cannot judge! 0:35:11.088,0:35:16.048 Well, parliamentaries, ministers, judges, 0:35:16.048,0:35:18.178 all the ones who have a power; 0:35:18.178,0:35:21.408 instituted,[br]established in the institutions 0:35:21.408,0:35:23.478 and even those who haven't got it yet 0:35:23.478,0:35:25.928 this power, but want this power; 0:35:25.928,0:35:27.908 all those who are in political parties; 0:35:27.908,0:35:30.498 all those who are in political parties; 0:35:30.498,0:35:32.548 who are candidates to this power; 0:35:32.550,0:35:34.190 so they look ahead 0:35:34.190,0:35:36.440 they know they will, one day, be in power 0:35:36.440,0:35:39.060 Those people are in a situation... 0:35:39.060,0:35:41.590 I'm absolutly not saying that [br]they are dishonest 0:35:41.590,0:35:44.420 please listen carefully so that [br]there is no misunderstanding. 0:35:44.420,0:35:45.730 As it was for the judge, 0:35:45.730,0:35:47.880 I don't say these people are dishonest,[br]not at all. 0:35:47.880,0:35:49.130 I say these people... 0:35:49.130,0:35:51.560 we need them, we need people [br]who will exercise power 0:35:51.560,0:35:54.250 But they shouldn't write[br]the constitution! 0:35:54.250,0:35:57.790 It is not to them to write the rule[br]they should fear 0:35:57.790,0:36:00.530 and which will stop them [br]from abusing of the power 0:36:00.530,0:36:03.720 and transform themselves [br]from servants to masters 0:36:03.725,0:36:06.245 They cannot write the rule 0:36:06.245,0:36:10.236 which will stop them from becoming[br]our absolute tyrannical masters. 0:36:10.236,0:36:12.406 It needs to be other people. 0:36:12.406,0:36:15.316 Others than people from parties 0:36:15.316,0:36:16.876 and who have the power 0:36:16.876,0:36:18.063 or who want it... 0:36:18.072,0:36:20.952 How will you do to designate them? 0:36:23.577,0:36:24.967 We will talk about it later. 0:36:24.967,0:36:26.357 But I can give you 0:36:26.357,0:36:27.397 a feeling of it 0:36:27.397,0:36:29.107 so that you have the idea in mind. 0:36:29.113,0:36:31.643 It is important that you see [br]where I am going. 0:36:31.643,0:36:33.165 The golden thread. 0:36:33.165,0:36:34.720 My train of thoughts. 0:36:34.720,0:36:37.750 I try to find [br]an honest constituant process 0:36:37.750,0:36:40.450 disinterested, [br]without conflict of interests. 0:36:40.450,0:36:42.810 So for now, today 0:36:42.810,0:36:45.650 I am thinking about sorting[br]the constituant assembly. 0:36:45.650,0:36:46.820 So maybe you'll find 0:36:46.820,0:36:48.530 a better idea, I'm all for it! 0:36:48.536,0:36:51.686 I am not looking into sortition, [br]just because it is sortition. 0:36:51.686,0:36:52.606 I don't care 0:36:52.606,0:36:54.337 If I get a better idea, I'll take that one. 0:36:54.337,0:36:58.558 I am looking for [the good idea], and it seems[br]to me that we should all be looking for it. 0:36:58.558,0:37:00.238 The problem is that 0:37:00.238,0:37:01.428 Noone cares for the moment. 0:37:01.428,0:37:03.228 That is the folly, the cause of causes 0:37:03.228,0:37:05.338 is our carelessness, our ignorance, 0:37:05.338,0:37:07.886 it's the fact that we don't care[br]at all about constitution 0:37:07.886,0:37:10.381 and constituant process we care even less 0:37:10.381,0:37:13.221 In Tunis, in Tunisia today, they are voting 0:37:13.221,0:37:15.891 for a constituant assembly 0:37:15.891,0:37:19.880 Just to smile, I'll play the devils' advocate. 0:37:19.880,0:37:22.260 And if I'm wrong, I'll be the fool. 0:37:22.750,0:37:24.150 I can predicte that 0:37:24.150,0:37:27.590 the constituant [br]which will be elected today 0:37:29.430,0:37:31.850 will not establish a democracy. 0:37:32.500,0:37:34.300 For the same reasons which forbid 0:37:34.300,0:37:38.507 real democracies to become reality. 0:37:39.078,0:37:40.798 Everywhere in the world, 0:37:40.798,0:37:42.971 if you let men in power write themselves 0:37:42.971,0:37:44.741 the rules of their own power: 0:37:44.741,0:37:47.431 they will not write [br]the power to the people. 0:37:47.431,0:37:49.751 And I can't be upset at them. 0:37:49.751,0:37:53.751 It's normal... They won't commit hara-kiri 0:37:53.751,0:37:55.881 They wont... They look ahead 0:37:55.885,0:37:58.215 they have a vision of the greater good. 0:37:58.215,0:38:00.395 It's very well, they are very virtuous. 0:38:00.395,0:38:03.510 But when they are writing the rules: 0:38:03.510,0:38:07.510 "Should we tally and put into force[br]blank votes?" 0:38:07.510,0:38:09.685 The possibility to kick us out 0:38:09.685,0:38:11.645 during an election, [br]for the people to say "no". 0:38:11.645,0:38:13.045 I don't want As, Bs nor Cs 0:38:13.045,0:38:14.095 I want them all to go home. 0:38:14.095,0:38:15.375 "Should we respect the [br]use of the blank vote?" 0:38:15.375,0:38:17.195 "Oh well... no it's not worth[br]the trouble, the blank vote..." 0:38:17.195,0:38:18.525 will say parliamentaries. 0:38:18.525,0:38:20.955 They will say: "No, it's not worth it..." 0:38:20.956,0:38:23.006 No, the blank vote... [br]the blank vote, no... 0:38:23.006,0:38:25.796 no there surely is something more important[br]to do in the constitution 0:38:25.796,0:38:27.694 and they will focus on something else! 0:38:27.694,0:38:29.234 Who wrote the rule stating 0:38:29.234,0:38:31.634 a blank vote is equal to "not voted"? 0:38:31.634,0:38:34.678 It is not simple citizens [br]who wrote that. It's impossible! 0:38:34.678,0:38:36.908 It is not simple citizens [br]who said "Blank votes..." 0:38:36.908,0:38:38.198 Do you know what is the blank vote? 0:38:38.200,0:38:39.990 White vote is a vote of protest. 0:38:40.000,0:38:41.980 A vote which says :[br]"Wait a minute, those there.... 0:38:41.980,0:38:43.190 they are all villains!" 0:38:43.190,0:38:44.500 These are all people[br]who are bad. 0:38:44.500,0:38:46.730 There are all people[br]I have already seen lying to me. 0:38:46.733,0:38:48.923 people who already reneged[br]on their promises. 0:38:48.923,0:38:51.513 Or people who, for this or this reason,[br]no matter.. 0:38:51.513,0:38:52.911 I want noone of them! 0:38:52.911,0:38:54.210 I want them all to go away. 0:38:54.210,0:38:55.380 I would like to put others instead. 0:38:55.380,0:38:56.631 That's the meaning of a blank vote. 0:38:56.631,0:38:57.661 The blank vote is a vote of protest. 0:38:57.674,0:38:59.424 Blank vote is an affirmative vote. 0:38:59.424,0:39:01.324 It is not a vote of carelessness. 0:39:01.324,0:39:03.164 Blank vote is not a mistake at all. 0:39:03.164,0:39:05.950 Blank vote is not an abstention. 0:39:05.950,0:39:09.318 Blank vote is a very engaged vote! 0:39:09.318,0:39:13.448 Which says "I am not happy at all [br]with the candidates you are suggesting" 0:39:13.448,0:39:14.848 I want others! 0:39:14.848,0:39:17.016 Or if you ask me stupid questions 0:39:17.016,0:39:18.896 it's a vote which says [br]" Please ask me other questions, 0:39:18.896,0:39:20.516 this one is stupid!" 0:39:20.516,0:39:23.951 A blank vote is truely very important, 0:39:26.153,0:39:28.263 Well, I won't open this parenthesis. 0:39:28.263,0:39:29.863 I was going to talk to you about ostracism 0:39:29.863,0:39:31.093 which was a way for athenians 0:39:31.093,0:39:32.403 to say "I don't want this one!" 0:39:32.424,0:39:34.944 A way of saying... It looks a little[br]like the white vote 0:39:34.944,0:39:37.214 It was a way, an institution, 0:39:37.214,0:39:39.254 which allowed for people to say 0:39:39.254,0:39:41.784 not only what I want, [br]but also what I don't want. 0:39:41.784,0:39:43.534 I will talk later maybe about it. 0:39:43.534,0:39:45.134 Anyway, what does, 0:39:45.134,0:39:47.934 what leads a constituant 0:39:47.934,0:39:49.784 someone who wrote a constitution 0:39:49.784,0:39:52.274 what leads him not to respect a blank vote 0:39:52.274,0:39:54.794 and mix it with null votes? 0:39:56.434,0:40:00.434 And this, this is just one of the 50 points[br]which build a constitution. 0:40:00.434,0:40:02.664 The respect of the blank vote. 0:40:03.673,0:40:09.033 A parliamentary, a minister will mix[br]a white vote with the nulls. 0:40:09.033,0:40:11.764 He will mix it with the "not voted". 0:40:11.764,0:40:15.764 He will do it because [br]it is in his interest. 0:40:15.764,0:40:18.244 Because there is a personnal interest 0:40:18.248,0:40:20.388 to avoid people from [br]being able to kick him out 0:40:20.388,0:40:21.968 when an election comes around. 0:40:21.968,0:40:25.053 So, there isn't...[br]I am not even upset at him. 0:40:25.053,0:40:30.491 Understand me, he shouldn't be[br]the one writing the constition.