Dreadful populism

The Maltese EU| Commissioner John Dalli is all hot and bothered at the intrangisant attitude of the Bulgarians,

“It is a pity that the Bulgarian cabinet has taken such a decision, being apparently driven by populist reasons. I personally would have never agreed to such a decision. The European Commission will continue to make all efforts to protect the rights of the Bulgarian citizens,who are not smokers,”

What have the ghastly Balkan types done? Do they encourage babies to smoke? Well not really

Under amendments that Bulgaria's parliament adopted earlier this month smoking will be allowed in separate smoking spaces inside restaurants, bars, coffee shops, railroad stations, airports, ports, and bus stations.

The owners of restaurants, clubs and coffee shops with an area less than 50 square meters, should decide if smoking would be allowed.

The disgraceful types, how could they? Listen to the people and act on it! The bastards.
Rather amusingly Dalli, forced to resign in a corruption scandal back in Malta - a scandal oddly resolved - went on to sadly admit,

the European Commission does not have the right to interfere directly with the decisions of the national authorities.

Which is interesting as they are comitted to a "Smoke Free Europe" by 2012, backed up by Directives. Nor does it stop them from spending millions on the subject.