The next to blow

下一輪打擊

Britain’s constitutional time-bomb

英國(guó)憲法的定時(shí)炸彈

Brexit is already a political crisis. Sooner or later it will become a constitutional crisis, too

英國(guó)退歐已經(jīng)是一場(chǎng)政治危機(jī)。這遲早也會(huì)成為一場(chǎng)憲法危機(jī)

詞匯

Brexit/英國(guó)退歐

BRITONS PRIDE themselves on their “unwritten” constitution. America, France and Germany need rules to be set down in black and white. In the Mother of Parliaments democracy has blossomed for over 300 years without coups, revolution or civil war, Irish independence aside. Its politics are governed by an evolving set of traditions, conventions and laws under a sovereign Parliament. Thanks to its stability, Britain convinced the world that its style of government was built on solid foundations laid down over centuries of commonsense adaptation.

英國(guó)人以他們“不成文”的憲法為榮。美國(guó)、法國(guó)和德國(guó)需要制定白紙黑字的規(guī)則。在這種英國(guó)議會(huì)制民主，已經(jīng)在沒(méi)有政變、革命或內(nèi)戰(zhàn)的情況下繁榮了300多年，愛爾蘭獨(dú)立除外。它的政治由一套不斷演變的傳統(tǒng)、慣例和法律在一個(gè)主權(quán)議會(huì)的管理下進(jìn)行。由于它的穩(wěn)定，英國(guó)讓世界相信，它的政府風(fēng)格是建立在幾個(gè)世紀(jì)以來(lái)常識(shí)性適應(yīng)的堅(jiān)實(shí)基礎(chǔ)之上的。

詞匯

Mother of Parliaments/ the British Parliament: the model and creator of many other Parliaments 英國(guó)議會(huì)(其他許多議會(huì)的典范和創(chuàng)始者)

?Irish/愛爾蘭人

Coup/政變

?

That view is out of date. The remorseless logic of Brexit has shoved a stick of constitutional dynamite beneath the United Kingdom—and, given the difficulty of constitutional reform in a country at loggerheads, there is little that can be done to defuse it. The chances are high that Britons will soon discover that the constitution they counted on to be adaptable and robust can in fact amplify chaos, division and the threat to the union.

那種觀點(diǎn)已經(jīng)過(guò)時(shí)了。英國(guó)退歐的無(wú)情邏輯已經(jīng)在英國(guó)王國(guó)的地下埋下了一根憲法炸彈——而且，考慮到一個(gè)國(guó)家在憲法改革方面存在的困難，要化解這一矛盾幾乎沒(méi)有什么辦法。英國(guó)人很有可能很快就會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)，他們所指望的適應(yīng)性強(qiáng)、生命力強(qiáng)的憲法，實(shí)際上可能會(huì)放大混亂、分裂和對(duì)歐盟的威脅。

詞匯

Remorseless/ 冷酷的；不知過(guò)錯(cuò)的；堅(jiān)持不懈的；不屈不撓的

Loggerhead/笨蛋；鐵球棒；紅海龜

On June 10th, three days after Theresa May steps down as Conservative leader, the race to succeed her will formally begin (see article). Some of the runners, including the favourite, Boris Johnson, vow that, unless the European Union gives them what they want (which it won’t), they will pull out of the EU on October 31st without a deal. The 124,000 members of the Conservative Party who will choose the next prime minister, an unrepresentative sample, to put it mildly, will thus take it upon themselves to resolve the question that has split the nation down the middle.

6月10日，也就是特蕾莎·梅辭去保守黨領(lǐng)袖三天后，接替她的競(jìng)選將正式開始。包括最受歡迎的鮑里斯?約翰遜在內(nèi)的一些競(jìng)選者發(fā)誓，除非歐盟滿足他們的要求(歐盟不會(huì))，否則他們將在10月31日退出歐盟，而不會(huì)達(dá)成任何協(xié)議。將選出下一任首相的12.4萬(wàn)名保守黨成員(委婉地說(shuō)，這是一個(gè)不具代表性的樣本)將自行解決這個(gè)將英國(guó)一分為二的問(wèn)題。

Worse, Britain’s supposedly sovereign Parliament has voted against just such a no-deal Brexit on the ground that it would do the country grave harm. There will doubtless be more parliamentary machinations to stop a no-deal Brexit or force one through. The constitution is unclear on whether the executive or Parliament should prevail. It is unclear how to even choose between them.

更糟糕的是，英國(guó)本應(yīng)擁有主權(quán)的議會(huì)竟然投票反對(duì)這樣一項(xiàng)無(wú)協(xié)議脫歐，理由是這將對(duì)英國(guó)造成嚴(yán)重?fù)p害。毫無(wú)疑問(wèn)，將會(huì)有更多的議會(huì)陰謀來(lái)阻止無(wú)協(xié)議脫歐或迫使其*****不清楚應(yīng)該由行政部門還是議會(huì)來(lái)主導(dǎo)。目前還不清楚如何在兩者之間做出選擇。

詞匯

No-deal Brexit /無(wú)協(xié)議脫歐

Machination/陰謀詭計(jì)；奸計(jì)

Prevail/盛行，流行；戰(zhàn)勝，獲勝

?

Behind this uncertainty lies the fact that Britain’s constitution is a jumble of contradictions scattered across countless laws, conventions and rules. As our Briefing this week describes, these can easily be amended, by a vote in Parliament or merely on the say-so of the controversial Speaker of the House of Commons—who this week vowed to stay in office in order to ensure that Parliament’s voice is heard. There was a time when most British lawmakers were mindful that playing fast and loose with the rules could undermine democracy. Perhaps that is why they used to practise self-restraint. But in recent decades, when liberal democracy seemed unshakable, Britain’s leaders forgot their caution. Instead, in a fit of absent-mindedness, they set about reinventing the constitution wholesale.

這種不確定性的背后是這樣一個(gè)事實(shí)，即英國(guó)憲法是由無(wú)數(shù)法律、慣例和規(guī)則之間的矛盾交織而成。正如我們這周的簡(jiǎn)報(bào)所描述的，這些都可以很容易地修改，通過(guò)議會(huì)的投票，或者僅僅通過(guò)眾議院有爭(zhēng)議的議長(zhǎng)——本周他發(fā)誓要繼續(xù)執(zhí)政，以確保議會(huì)的聲音被聽到。曾經(jīng)有一段時(shí)間，大多數(shù)英國(guó)議員都意識(shí)到，反復(fù)無(wú)常的規(guī)則可能會(huì)破壞民主。也許這就是為什么他們習(xí)慣于自我約束。但近幾十年來(lái)，當(dāng)自由民主似乎不可動(dòng)搖時(shí)，英國(guó)領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人忘記了他們的謹(jǐn)慎。相反，在一陣心不在焉中，他們開始大規(guī)模地重塑憲法。

詞匯

Reinvent/重新使用；徹底改造；重復(fù)發(fā)明

?

Under Tony Blair and David Cameron, the Westminster Parliament ceded power to assemblies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and to the people directly through referendums. These innovations were often well-meant and, in themselves, desirable. But nobody gave much thought to the consequences for the constitution as a whole.

在托尼?布萊爾(Tony Blair)和戴維?卡梅倫(David Cameron)的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)下，威斯敏斯特議會(huì)將權(quán)力移交給蘇格蘭、威爾士和北愛爾蘭的議會(huì)，并通過(guò)公投直接移交給人民。這些創(chuàng)新往往是善意的，本身也是可取的。但沒(méi)有人過(guò)多考慮憲法作為一個(gè)整體的后果。

詞匯

Cede/放棄；割讓

well-meant/沒(méi)有惡意的

?

The resulting mess has already stamped its mark on Brexit. The referendum endorsed leaving the EU but left the details for later. It provided a mandate for Brexit, but not for any of the very different forms Brexit can take. It is unclear how MPs should reconcile their duty to honour the referendum with the duty of each one of them to act in the best interests of their constituents. Other countries avoid that mistake. Ireland holds referendums, too. But Article 46 of its constitution is clear: the people vote on a change only after a bill has passed through the Dail with the details nailed down. Britain never thought to be so sensible.

由此造成的混亂已經(jīng)在英國(guó)退歐問(wèn)題上留下了印記。公投支持脫歐，但卻將細(xì)節(jié)置之之后。它為英國(guó)退歐提供了授權(quán)，但沒(méi)有為退歐可能采取的任何非常不同的形式提供授權(quán)。目前尚不清楚，議員們應(yīng)如何協(xié)調(diào)履行公投義務(wù)與各自為選民的最大利益行事的義務(wù)。其他國(guó)家避免了這種錯(cuò)誤。愛爾蘭也舉行公投。但是憲法第46條是明確的:只有在一項(xiàng)法案通過(guò)并確定了細(xì)節(jié)之后，人民才會(huì)對(duì)一項(xiàng)改革進(jìn)行投票。英國(guó)從未想過(guò)會(huì)如此明智。

詞匯

Reconcile/使一致；使和解；調(diào)停，調(diào)解

nail down/確定，明確；用釘釘住

Brexit is itself sowing the seeds of further constitutional chaos, by threatening the integrity of the union. In the elections for the European Parliament (see article), the Scottish National Party (SNP) won an increased share of the poll. Scotland voted Remain in the referendum, and the SNP’s leaders can understandably claim that they have just won an enhanced mandate to leave the United Kingdom. Yet, at least one of the Tory leadership candidates is ruling out any further referendums.

英國(guó)退歐本身就在通過(guò)威脅歐盟的完整性，播下進(jìn)一步憲政混亂的種子。在歐洲議會(huì)選舉中，蘇格蘭民族黨(SNP)贏得了更多的選票。蘇格蘭在公投中選擇了留歐，蘇格蘭民族黨(SNP)領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人可以理解地宣稱，他們剛剛贏得了脫離英國(guó)的授權(quán)。然而，至少有一位保守黨領(lǐng)袖候選人排除了任何進(jìn)一步公投的可能。

詞匯

Integrity/完整；正直；誠(chéng)實(shí)；廉正

rule out/排除；取消；劃去；反對(duì)；阻止

?

Breaking up the union would be a constitutional nightmare—if only because no process for secession is laid down. Merely choosing to hold a second Scottish referendum could be fraught. Mr Johnson is loathed north of the border. Plenty of English voters are calling for a second Brexit referendum. Mrs May told the SNP to wait until Brexit had been resolved. Legally, could Prime Minister Johnson hold the line against a determined Scottish campaign? It is unclear.

分裂歐盟將是憲法上的噩夢(mèng)——僅僅因?yàn)闆](méi)有制定任何脫離歐盟的程序。僅僅是選擇舉行第二次蘇格蘭公投就可能充滿變數(shù)。約翰遜先生在被邊境以北上的人所厭惡的。許多英國(guó)選民呼吁進(jìn)行第二次脫歐公投。梅告訴蘇格蘭民族黨要等到英國(guó)退歐問(wèn)題得到解決。從法律上講，英國(guó)首相約翰遜(Johnson)能否堅(jiān)持反對(duì)蘇格蘭發(fā)起一場(chǎng)堅(jiān)決的運(yùn)動(dòng)?目前尚不清楚。

詞匯

Loathe/討厭，厭惡

The very act of leaving the EU would also load the constitution with fresh doubts. The Charter of Fundamental Rights, which enshrines EU citizens’ rights in law, would no longer govern British courts. Some would-be Tory leaders, such as Dominic Raab, want to scrap domestic legislation that embeds those rights. If Parliament passed oppressive new laws, the courts might complain, but they could not stop it. Voters who moan about meddling European judges might start to have second thoughts. Cue calls for a British Bill of Rights and another fit of ill-considered constitutional innovation.

離開歐盟的行為本身也會(huì)給憲法增添新的疑慮。將歐盟公民權(quán)利載入法律的《基本權(quán)利憲章》(Charter of basic Rights)將不再管轄英國(guó)法院。一些未來(lái)的保守黨領(lǐng)袖，如多米尼克?拉布，想要廢除賦予這些權(quán)利的國(guó)內(nèi)立法。如果議會(huì)通過(guò)了壓迫性的新法律，法院可能會(huì)抱怨，但他們無(wú)法阻止。那些抱怨干預(yù)歐洲法官的選民可能會(huì)重新考慮。庫(kù)伊呼吁通過(guò)一項(xiàng)英國(guó)人權(quán)法案，以及另一項(xiàng)考慮不周的憲法改革。

詞匯

Enshrine/銘記，珍藏；把…置于神龕內(nèi)；把…奉為神圣

Oppressive/壓迫的；沉重的；壓制性的；難以忍受的

And that leads to a final worry. Britain’s ramshackle, easily amended constitution is vulnerable to the radicalised politics produced by three years spent rowing about Brexit. Jeremy Corbyn and his colleagues on the hard left could not be clearer about their ambitions to revolutionise Britain. It is naive to think they would focus on the economy and public spending, but leave the rules alone. A Labour government under Mr Corbyn—or, for that matter, a Conservative government led by a populist Tory—would be constrained only by its ability to get its way in Parliament. Labour has already called for a constitutional convention.

這就引出了最后一個(gè)擔(dān)憂。英國(guó)松散的、很容易修改的憲法，很容易受到圍繞英國(guó)退歐問(wèn)題爭(zhēng)吵了三年而產(chǎn)生的激進(jìn)政治的影響。杰里米?科爾賓(Jeremy Corbyn)和他的極左同事對(duì)改革英國(guó)的雄心壯志再清楚不過(guò)了。如果認(rèn)為他們會(huì)專注于經(jīng)濟(jì)和公共支出，而不理會(huì)規(guī)則，那就太天真了。科爾賓先生領(lǐng)導(dǎo)下的工黨政府——或者就此而言，由民粹主義保守黨領(lǐng)導(dǎo)的保守黨政府——只會(huì)受到其在議會(huì)中為所欲為的能力的限制。工黨已經(jīng)呼吁召開制憲會(huì)議。

詞匯

Ramshackle/（建筑物、車輛等）搖搖欲墜的，破爛不堪的；（組織或體制）松散的，東拼西湊的

Most Britons seem blithely unaware of the test ahead. Perhaps they believe that their peculiar way of doing things always leads to stability. It is indeed just possible that their constitution’s infinite flexibility will permit a compromise that gets the country through the Brexit badlands. More likely, however, it will feed claims that the other lot are cheats and traitors.

大多數(shù)英國(guó)人似乎對(duì)即將到來(lái)的考驗(yàn)毫不知情。也許他們相信他們獨(dú)特的做事方式總會(huì)帶來(lái)安定。他們的憲法具有無(wú)限的靈活性，確實(shí)有可能達(dá)成妥協(xié)，讓英國(guó)擺脫英國(guó)退歐的困境。然而，更有可能的是，這將助長(zhǎng)另一群人是騙子和叛徒的說(shuō)法。

詞匯

blithely快活地；無(wú)憂無(wú)慮地

claim/要求；聲稱；索賠；斷言；值得

traitor/叛徒；賣國(guó)賊；背信棄義的人

Brexit has long been a political crisis. Now it looks destined to become a constitutional crisis, too. It is one for which Britain is woefully underprepared.

英國(guó)退歐長(zhǎng)期以來(lái)一直是一場(chǎng)政治危機(jī)?，F(xiàn)在看來(lái)，這也注定會(huì)成為一場(chǎng)憲法危機(jī)。可悲的是，英國(guó)在這方面準(zhǔn)備不足。

詞匯

Woefully/悲傷地；不幸地；使人痛苦地