Posted on 05/26/2005 4:51:08 PM PDT by quidnunc
President Chirac of France is preparing to throw Europe into confusion and put Britain on the spot by backing moves to keep the European constitution alive if it is rejected in Sunday’s referendum.
French diplomats say that M Chirac is expected to urge other countries to proceed with ratification because France does not want to be seen to be blocking the European project. Any attempt to persuade other countries to go ahead will dash the hopes of those in the British Government who believed that a French rejection would make a British referendum unnecessary.
British ministers argue that it will be impossible to hold a referendum next year because the final shape of the treaty on which the British would be voting will be unknown.
President Chirac was still insisting last night that renegotiation was out of the question if the French vote "no". British ministers believe that the only way that the French could get eventual approval would be to amend the constitution in a way that would make it unacceptable in Britain.
“We do not know if there is going to be a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ but a ‘no’ would create massive uncertainty about what we are supposed to be voting on,” a ministerial source said. M Chirac went on French television last night to deliver a dramatic last-ditch appeal for a ‘yes’ vote. He urged the French people not to punish his Government.
“The decision before us goes far beyond traditional political divisions,” he said. The choice was “about your future and that of your children, of the future of France and the future of Europe. On Sunday, everyone will have a share of the destiny of France in its hands.”
He argued that the constitution would strengthen France’s influence in Europe and reinforce the French social model. Rejecting it would create “divisions and doubts” in Europe when “we need a political Europe capable of bringing about a genuine European power”.
-snip-
I hate this scumbag POS.
LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL
We ALL do.
No wonder M Kerry loved M Chirac so much.
They need to fillibuster it
Wow - he could be a US Senator.
Kind of like their position in NATO. Not a member, except have a say and derive benefit.
Do they have hanging chads in France?
Perhaps some "intended" to vote Yes.
These countries may be at each others' throats before too long.
I predict serious vote fraud.
Did they send the Democraps from WA state over there?
And since when have any of Hillary's worldwide socialists (Europe, Canada, NZ, OZ, US, India, or China/Cuba/NK) followed ANY rule of law?
Chiraq's got one thing going for him, as far as I can tell:
At least he's not Mugabe.
And Blair is expected to ask his countrymen to vote yes on what exactly? A Constitution that is uncertain and will have to change? And when it's changed, the British should vote again? And if the changes are unacceptable to the British, they then are perceived to be the roadblock. Chirac must think that they're stupid.
Or, perhaps, the Britsh should simply accept any and all of the changes that will need to be made so that the French find it acceptable?
That's ridiculous. How does this put the British on the spot? They'd have to be bonkers to vote on a Constitution that isn't finalized. Finalize the constitution, and let the British vote. They'd have to be qhite mad to want to get into bed with the French and the Germans anyway.
We'd be happy to give him the 9th District Court...
Chirac expects the British to vote on the constitution that his own country is going to vote down.
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