France Admits EU Constitutional Referendum Vote Is Lost (moved from ATSNN)

The nation of France is scheduled to have a public referendum on the constitution of the European Union. According to the leader of the ruling party, Nicolas Sarkozy, the voting will likely result in a rejection.




The story goes on to say that ministers in the United Kingdom are prepared to ditch their own EU referendum if it fails in France.

Some of the reasons cited in the article for France's impending rejection are that there is a perception that too many concessions were made to the British and the half-hearted support and promotion by France's leaders.

Personally, the soon-to-be failure of the EU's constitution demonstrates the strength and uniqueness of the US constitution.

[edit on 5/26/2005 by ChemicalLaser]

It's a vote on a constitution to form a European federal government, a new sovereign state, not a treaty; fix the headline and I'll vote yes.

Absolutely right. Sloppy editing on my part.

I appreciate the helpful comment - I got one (now 3) 'No - bias' vote(s). I wish someone would explain that one to me. Verrrry funny.



[edit on 5/26/2005 by ChemicalLaser]

Looks like the French Pres. is going to upset a lot of his people.

www.timesonline.co.uk...

Do I smell civil war?

Roper

am i the only one that think.... Who cares? those backstabbers can do whatever they want.

XP, the referendum involves all of Europe, its a big step torwards forming an over-european government and political entity. Its got a lot more to do with than just the cheese eating surrender monkeys.

Think of it as being when the colonies in the america were trying to get their governments to ratify the Articles of Confederation. This is like New York or Virginia voting 'no'. Heck, its worse, becuase if a single country votes 'no' , then the whole thing fails to pass.

This is done to demonstrate that its not just about making a new state or something, but that its about all of europe moving ahead and moving toghether.


BTW, anyone intersted in teh Electoral College and the non-popular voting system in the US should look at this as an example. Why not have all of Europe simply vote by plebiscite, 'yes or no' on the constitution? Becuase there's more to Europe than a mass of people, there are states with their own organizational levels and that themselves represent their state-citizens.

The fundamental problem with the EU constitution, the reason why most european countries fear democratic referendums on it, and the reason behind the probably coming french "Non" to the referendum is that it has, at the request of corrupt governements like Tony Blair's, been tailored to suit the needs of big financial conglomerates instead of those of the european people. Wouldnt it have been modified, it would have outlawed many ultraliberal practices ( mass impoverishment, lack of social security, lack of health care). Now if the french "Non" gives way to an amendment increasing social rights for european citizen, this could produce a constitution in line with the will not only of the french, but of all european people's wills. It would marginalize the corrupt Bush lackeys and force them towards democratic reform.

The reason this is going down in flames is that it's a 300+page monstrosity that no one understands! Either stick with treaties or make a real federal government defined by an easily understood, short constitution like the one in the U.S. -- there's no middle ground to be lorded over by unelected bureaucratic commissions!

Its 500 pages.

Also this constitutions demise wont change the face of Europe much. All its contents are drawn from existing treaties and agreements. It doesnt matter that the French vote against it. The German government ratified it, who cares?

The French referendum is more a critique on the existing European Union rules, which as mentioned, is stupidly cow-towing to Britain. Britain shouldnt be in the European Union, we dont deserve it. We push for an opt-out on everything we dont like such as legally protected fair working hours and increased social protections. We demand £3 billion back from Europe every year, why do these guys want us in a European community?

Dump Britain from the EU until we get a government for the people and not an extention of Washington.

For those that have requested edits, please note that the "edit" button no longer appears for me. For whatever reason, I can't edit the story. This happened to me yesterday with some other posts and I've sent a "gripe" to the mods, but with no response/solution yet.

I figured that the EU was doomed when the UK decided they wouldn't adopt the Euro currency.

Its not doomed, it just wont have a constitution. A superstate EU is not really appropriate IMHO and it wont arise democratically.

Only 60 years ago this contintent was ripped apart for the second time in 30 years by wars that consumed the planet. I know we have moved on since then but tribalism (read nationalism) is so ingrained on our psyche that we wont vote to lose a major part of our identities. However beneficial it may be.

The problem for the EU is really not that Britain has it's own currency. This is probably even better, since the UK is structurally closer to the USA than to the continent. (finance, industry and infrastructure)

The problem for the EU is rather precise economic strategy. Should we listen to the financial conglomerates who tell us to liberalize everything and thus degenerate socially, culturally and economically to the level of the USA, or should we rather choose the offensive and export our social market economies ? The second strategy seems more profitable to me as it serves to circumvene cheap-labor competition from third-world economies, and gives the people a grip on the capital movements.

[edit on 27-5-2005 by Moretti]

Looks like the French Pres. is going to upset a lot of his people.

www.timesonline.co.uk...

Do I smell civil war?

Civil war

I doubt it.

The French Pres., will more then likely surrender before it begins



[edit on 5/27/2005 by shots]