Posted on 05/29/2005 1:41:55 PM PDT by Libloather
French Reject EU Constitution, Gov't Says
By JOHN LEICESTER, Associated Press Writer
5 minutes ago
PARIS - French voters rejected the European Union's first constitution Sunday, early government results showed — a stinging repudiation of the ambitious, decades-long effort to further unite the continent.
With about 83 percent of the votes counted, the referendum was rejected by 57.26 percent of voters, the Interior Ministry said. The treaty was supported by 42.74 percent, the ministry said.
All 25 EU members must ratify the text for it to take effect — and nine already have done so. The Dutch vote Wednesday, with polls showing opposition to the constitution running at about 60 percent.
"There is no more constitution," leading opponent Philippe de Villiers said. "It is necessary to reconstruct Europe on other foundations that don't currently exist."
De Villiers called on Chirac to submit his resignation — something the French leader had said he would refuse to do — and called for parliament to be dissolved.
"Tonight we face a major political crisis," he said.
EU officials had said that even if France rejected the treaty, efforts to ratify it in other countries would proceed, and they have been vague on whether the treaty might be somehow renegotiated or submitted to a repeat vote.
Backers said the constitution, which European leaders signed in October, would streamline EU operations and decision-making, and make the bloc more accessible to its 450 million citizens. The text would give the EU a president and foreign minister so it could speak with one voice in world affairs.
Opponents feared it would strip nations of sovereignty and trigger an influx of cheap labor just as European powers such as France and Germany struggle to contain double-digit unemployment.
Left-wing opponents argued that the treaty would not protect France's cherished social protections and public services, and would open the door to unfettered capitalism and trample on workers' rights.
Some said the treaty did not go far enough toward making the European Union more democratic, including by not giving enough powers to the European Parliament.
HA!HA! ...one of the best posts on this thread... :D... Wrong! Chirac...You were marginalized by the world, with DE GAULLE in 1958/1967.
It's Karl Rove's fault.
That's not the point.
My point is that it wasn't just conservative nationalists who rejected the EU constitution. It was the extreme left-wing as well.
Here in FR, more or less because of a knee-jerk disposition to blast everything European, we tend to think that the EU Constitution was a giant left-wing continental power grab, when in fact that same left-wing largely rejected the document as "too capitalist".
That's my $2*10^-2
The funniest thing I've heard yet:
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French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie described the French rejection as "a defeat for France and a defeat for Europe".
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LOL --- ROTFLMPO --- The French Defense Minister describes the French People as having defeated France... lol...
What a maroon... how french ... these guys invented the white flag ... lol ... France is now surrendering to themselves ...
"It is impossible to be united and have diversity. You cannot have 25 different languages and cultures and be "unified" it just does not work."
India -- 25 different languages and many different cultures within the states but it works. As another poster said it does depend on which issues one would like to unite by.
They all hate America...I guess thats a start *sarcasm*.
And this just in........In a related story, all of the rest of Europe says "non" to france
The countries that reject the treaty will be asked to vote again. What don't they understand about "NON"? The Ns or the O? Sounds like the Dems. Keep voting until you win.
Great news!
MeekO - do you still have the pic of President Bush talking on the phone to his counterpart in Paris?
Does that also mean that if the margin of victory was equally small that there would be a do-over vote?
I didn't think so.
Chirac reminds me of our Democrats. If you don't like the results, do-over until you get the results you want.
My friends and I always used to do that...........................when we were kids.
Time for the libs to GROW UP.
So, where'd they hide those 22% undecideds at? Hmmmm.
But 58% is even worse than was suspected.
This is about 15% difference? That's a REAL significant number.
ROFLROFLROFL!
Just when you think they've surrendered to everyone they can, they find someone new to surrender to!!
MeekO - do you still have the pic of President Bush
talking on the phone to his counterpart in Paris?Ah, yes. You must be talkin' about this one .....
t,
I´m afraid to learn that the bottom line isn´t deep enough for the EU. Neither will Chirac resign nor will the ratification process stop. The EU wants the other countries to ratify the treaty and hopes for another vote on the constitution by the French. Just like the Irish on Nice or the Danes on Maastricht - first a "No" then a "Yes". Yeah, that´s a great understanding of democracy: vote until you win. I´ve never heard that politicians wanted a won referendum repeated one year later.
However, with that French decision in their backs, the Dutch aren´t voting in favor of that paper on Wednesday either. In 2006, the heads of governments will assemble again to decide what to do. One´s for sure, there won´t be deliberations to change that adopted proposal. Either the peoples of Europe accept it, or they refuse it. No compromises - just the way the politicians treat us here. I´m sure that this behaviour after the defeat for Brussels will increase the frustration we Europeans have with the "EUrocrats". It´s enough. They´ve lost touch with reality, and not even the speak-up of the French or Dutch will teach them a lesson, bad enough.
Regards,
Michael
I´m really annoyed at the arrogance the EU-politicians show us. The French said "non" and all they say is "we are continuing the process of ratification, the French will come to senses". As if 55% were too dumb...
Und jetzt: was soll denn in September passieren??? Frau Merkel is no Lady Thatcher, the FDP has lost its bearings, and there's nothing else to choose from. One can only hope that whoever wins will find, deep within, the political courage to loosen the constraints on the labor market (the first big step necessary) and moreover the moral cojones to speak out against the vile pronouncements of Müntefering. If Frau Merkel should win, let us hope that she may yet achieve greatness, or at least have it thrust upon her.
It has nothing to do with being left or right but with being pragmatic. If you think, Poland alone can assert her interests in a globalized world, you're delusional. You cannot vote facts away.
A strong Europe is Polands only hope. You can only reach your maximum performance, when you play among your own. The European countries share the same borders, have a common market and the same currency.
America cannot be a partner for Poland because it plays in a different league. An alliance will always be a one-way alliance as will be a "friendship". To America you're a lap dog. One of those countries they can use.
Michael,
I hate Chirac but I have to give him credit, at least he put it out their for the people to vote on. Countires don't have to have a referendum, they can approve it through their Parliments. At least Chirac put it up for people to vote on.
I also agree with you. This comes to fast after the Euro Integration. People are still getting used to the Euro. + It did give to much power to Brussels. The Comissions make laws and the members of the comissions are NOT elected. It reminds me of Communism, when un-elected Eurocrats make the laws and there is no way to vote them out of office becasue they are not elected in the first place.
More time is needed.
Candidate for Chancellorship Dr. Angela Merkel has just announced she wants tax cuts, paying for it by cutting the budget. We can do better, we will do better. In foreign policy, Germany will come back as a mediator - between the East and West of Europe and between the UK/US and France/Russia.
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