On June 1, the European Constitution, which seeks to establish a super-state out of all EU member nations, might already be dead in the water. Today, the French could vote by a 53 percent margin to reject la Constitution pour l'Europe. The French vote could be crucial to the survival of the Constitution.
Last month, Spain voted by 77 percent in favor, although a considerable amount of the country's electorate abstained from voting. Meanwhile, the French are worried about what the future of their country would be once the bureaucrats in Brussels have been given a virtual green light. The issue of sovereignty is a big one.
The Socialist Party in France, led by Laurent Fabius, is a major player in the "non" campaign. Although the Socialists elsewhere in Europe are in favor of the Constitution, Fabius won his bid for the French Socialists to encourage a no vote. Although a majority the Left feels that the social model for Europe would be strengthened by adopting the Constitution, most left-wingers in France, as well as nationalists, do not buy that argument. They fear neolibeal market forces that will corrupt their way of life. The French also feel that this would signal Turkey's inclusion into Europe, an idea they are aghast at. If those encouraging a no vote, which runs the gamut from far Left to far Right, succeed today, the Constitution would be stalled with no sure chance at re-negotiation. At any rate, it is clear that the French nation is very much divided over the issue.
However strong the sentiment in France against the EU Constitution may be, injury could be added to insult by the Dutch, who have their own referendum on the treaty on Wednesday. Seventy percent have already claimed that they'll abstain from voting, following the Spanish electorate model.
Article comments
1 - The Duke
If the Euro tanks... does the U.S. dollar gain back some lost ground? Hmmm interesting little turn of economic events.
2 - RJ
As I understand it, the EURO is tanking now that the French have resoundingly rejected the EU Constitution, and the US dollar has been rising of late.