Thread by @DaveKeating

There's been a lot of recent takes that the EU is a failure if it can't enforce a 'union of values' on all its constituent states.

But it's worth pointing out that this is a problem encountered by every federation of states with degrees of sovereignty. apnews.com/article/joe-bi…

Just like President Von der Leyen, President Biden has very limited ability to counter the erosion of democratic rights in US states when it comes to areas that are a state competence.

Like Brussels, Washington has some limited tools. But Texas can mostly do what it wants here.

VDL & Biden can condemn with a moral argument. They can look for ways to deter the member state behaviour through condemnation, or through withholding funding.

But in a federation, ability to directly intervene is limited. EU & US very different, but face similar problems here.

The main tool federal capitals have when constituent states pass unconscionable legislation is the courts.

Commission is taking #Poland & #Hungary to the ECJ (challenge to 🇭🇺 anti-gay law expected soon). Can Biden take #Texas to the Supreme Court?
democracynow.org/2021/7/9/texas…

BTW on Texas - remember there's no such thing as a 'national' 🇺🇸 election.

All elections are run by states, even presidential race where technically voters are choosing a state elector.

Same in 🇪🇺, where EU Parliament elections are run (in differing ways) by member states.

And, just like in the EU, when the US federal politicians criticise what's going on in a state government, they're told to mind their own business.

https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1415314137526247424?s=20