Flouquet’s D-Day
Tuesday 27th January 2009, 2:29PM GMT.
DEPUTY Chief Minister Bernard’s Flouquet’s political future will be decided by the States tomorrow.
He faces a motion of no confidence after he told a joke with racial undertones at a press conference in November.
Before that the States will also debate a code of conduct panel recommendation that he be reprimanded, but which said it was for the Assembly to decide on his deputy chief minister role.
It is understood that Deputy Flouquet is planning to speak only in the debate on the reprimand, not the motion of no confidence being led by Deputy Leon Gallienne. Some have warned that the debates will be seen as the States tearing itself apart.
Deputy Flouquet is expected to issue another apology for his actions, having done so immediately after the incident, in a later statement he read out in the States and after the panel’s findings were issued.
But he remains firm in his commitment that he will not stand down as deputy chief minister having taken extensive soundings from fellow members.
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I think this upcoming debate will say a lot about our current States. A well reasoned, civilised debate will restore some confidence in the House and send a message to the outside world that our government can be respected at least in its dealings with internal affairs; a “slanging match” will cause more damage than Deputy Flouquet’s gaffe and reinforce many people’s opinion that the current States is a bit of a laughing stock.
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I worry that this will be a whitewash with lots of sombre nods of mock appreciation for his so called apology, a little bit of hand wringing for his unfortunate and misunderstood jape and then resounding support for business as usual by giving him the faintest tickle on the wrist.
Having taken soundings from other members he doesn’t think this is a matter for resignation so, in effect, the whole of the States is facing a no confidence bill if this is the case.
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It would appear that Deputy Flouquet maybe the cause of further problems amongst the members, all because he has not resigned:-
[Some have warned that the debates will be seen as the States tearing itself apart.]
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Better that the States is seen to “tear itself apart” than it is seen as cosy club where you can do no wrong, even to the extent of condoning racism.
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I suspect that “tear itself apart” comes from a States source in an attempt to persuade the anti Floquet camp to shut up and go away.
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I have listened to part one of the debate on BBC Guernsey and noted that some members blame the media for a ‘witch hunt’.
They all voted to reprimand Deputy Flouquet, I assume because they thought it was wrong of him to have repeated such a joke and yet it seemed to me that within some arguements against the motion for a vote of no confidence, that some appeared to contradict this view point by dismissing it as a media storm.
One policy council minister decided this was the forum to attack the views of ex deputy Peter Roffrey, it came across rather personal, no wonder he left politics!
One member claimed that we have all at one time or another told inappropriate jokes, as a way of belittling the significance. He obviously spoke for himself and that I guess compromises his ability to view the fundamental point. Furthermore, how many of this crowd have repeated such a joke whilst representing the island in front of the media!!
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