Posted on 05/24/2005 1:03:10 PM PDT by Pikamax
France Set for 'No' Vote
"PA"
Mounting signs suggest that President Jacques Chirac’s decision to call a referendum on Europe’s future has backfired with a string of polls pointing to a possibly humiliating defeat for the French leader.
A new poll today indicated that Chirac’s opponents are gaining momentum in the last crucial days of campaigning before Sunday’s vote that he called on the European Union’s first constitution – a text that marks the next big step in a 50-year process of European coming-together.
A French “no” could, at least temporarily, kill off the landmark treaty and its stated goal of closer integration between the EU’s 25 member states. They all must approve the constitution for it to go into effect in 2006. But voters in France and the Netherlands, who cast ballots three days after the French, have grave misgivings.
Chirac, like leaders elsewhere in Europe, could in theory have chosen the easier path of having the treaty approved by parliament where his government holds power.
But history, pressures from political leaders who wanted the French to have their say and his own record of having spoken in favour of referendums forced Chirac’s hand, even though he also fears that a “no” will plunge the EU into crisis.
Had Chirac refused a referendum, “it would have given the impression that he was afraid of the people,” said Florence Deloche-Gaudez, an expert on the EU and the constitution at Sciences Po university in Paris.
The new poll by the Ifop agency for Paris Match magazine showed the “no” camp taking 54% of the vote compared to 46% for the “yes” camp. The poll was at least the tenth in 10 days to put the “no” camp ahead. No margin of error was given.
As Sunday approaches, opponents of the treaty are sounding more confident. Olivier Besancenot of the Revolutionary Communist League said at a press conference today that ”no” campaigners from the left will likely party on Place de la Bastille in Paris if they win.
Signs of pessimism, meanwhile, are creeping into the ”yes” campaign.
“It is deeply unfair what is happening,” Daniel Cohn-Bendit, the leader of the Green party in the European Parliament, told France-2 television, lamenting the “no” lead in polls.
Chirac also faces opposition from within his own party, the UMP. Twelve of its lawmakers gathered at a Paris park today to call for a “no.” One of them read aloud a joint statement in which they accused European leaders from outside France of interfering in the vote by appealing for a French “yes.”
“In our history, all pressures of this kind have rebounded against those who made them,” the lawmakers said.
Chirac will try to turn the situation around in a televised address on Thursday evening from the presidential Elysee Palace – his fourth and last such appearance of the campaign.
Former Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, a Socialist who has emerged from retirement to campaign for the treaty, also was appearing on TV today to try to win over voters on the left – shown by polls to largely oppose the treaty.
France: Their brains say no, but their hearts say YEA! lol
I would LOVE it if they voted no if for no other reason than to wipe that self important grin off Chirass's face.
That being said i think the french will still vote yes in the end
Hell, they'll just push some loophole reboot button, let the legislature vote on it, then tell the people "Sorry, but thanks for playing. We know better than you!"
Washington state ballot counters are on standby to help out the "Yes" side if the results are close.
"Mounting signs suggest that President Jacques Chirac’s decision to call a referendum on Europe’s future has backfired with a string of polls pointing to a possibly humiliating defeat for the French leader."
Like his country, Chirac has had so many defeats that it's getting difficult to keep them sorted out.
Cohn-Bendit, by the way, is a former terrorist and a child molester.
And no, I'm not kidding.
No vote??? Have the French ever voted YES for anything? Oh, right, socialism, free stuff, short work weeks, one bath per month. I forgot.
I don't buy it, but it doesn't matter anyway. The EU already has established embassies all over the world -- a power that will supposedly only be granted to them by the Constitution.
They have already put the Constitution into effect -- if it's voted down, they will simply pay lip service to the "no" and continue what they're doing behind the scenes.
Not that it bothers me too much, but leave it to the French to F things up! The Netherlands is already leaning quite a bit on the "NO" side. These are two founding members of the EU. If these two vote against it, Tony is going to have a tough time selling it in the UK. And with that, IMHO, this thing would be dead.
Nothing but a good and continual case of abdominal cramps, never ending diarrhea and every restroom occupied.
If the lefties want to party, destroy Bastille (again) and guilliotine Chirac, no objections.
France will vote "Non".
This is the Waterloo of the ENArques.
After this, the professional political class will have shot it's last bolt. Reform will not be imposed upon France from without. It will have to be negotiated between the social partners within France proper, as it should be.
In the long term, this is good for France and for Europe.
The democratic deficit in the current European construction is quite profound.
"“It is deeply unfair what is happening,” Daniel Cohn-Bendit, the leader of the Green party in the European Parliament, told France-2 television, lamenting the “no” lead in polls."
It's unfair? How? The Government and the Media are propogandizing for the "Yes" campiagn, and yet theyre still losing. And they're saying it's unfair to them! lol!
Not his fault. A name like "Con-Bandit" calls for a very stressful life...
Is Jimmie Carter in france to monitor the election process to make sure this bannans republic plays fair in this election?
Tony Blair is probably breathing a huge sigh of relief. While he favors the EU Constitution it has never been popular in the UK and the people likely would have rejected it. By having the French lead the retreat (something they are very good at), Tony Blair is saved a huge embarrassment of a No vote in the UK.
Now we have the situation where everybody except Frogs may vote for the const. My question: Is the idea of Europ of two velocities still considered? lol
Something in the tone of that statement makes me smile.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.