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Follow on Google News | Brexit Would Bloat Voting Power of Some EU CountriesBritain's Exit From the EU Would Leave Many Countries Even More Under Represented
For example, until recently, France and Germany together had a combined voting power of 17.5%. The Lisbon treaty in 2009 increased that to 25.7%, and Brexit would further increase it to almost 30%. Altogether this represents a more than 70% increase in voting power, including a 16% increase if Britain in fact leaves - a major change in voting power which many citizens of the EU may not even realize is occurring. As just reported in an article entitled "Brexit and EU Power Distribution," Law Professor John Banzhaf - who is best known for his antismoking activities in banning cigarette commercials, prohibiting smoking in a growing number of workplaces and public places both here and abroad, and including a 50% smoker surcharge under Obamacare - developed the Banzhaf Index to successfully show that many weighted voting systems at the time were unconstitutional. He later used it to demonstrate that, under the Electoral College, voters in the most populous states have far more voting power than those in less populous states. Other have used it in a variety of situations, including explaining recent British elections. These new calculations are very important, says Banzhaf, because they represent a significant and largely secret shift in voting power on this very powerful body. If Britain does leave the EU, the members may want to consider whether they are happy with this apparent disparity in voting power, or want to make any further changes to adjust for this new development if it in fact occurs. JOHN F. BANZHAF III, B.S.E.E., J.D., Sc.D. Professor of Public Interest Law George Washington University Law School, FAMRI Dr. William Cahan Distinguished Professor, Fellow, World Technology Network, Founder, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) 2000 H Street, NW, Wash, DC 20052, USA (202) 994-7229 // (703) 527-8418 http://banzhaf.net/ End
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