French constitutional cliffhanger in view

Published: 30 March 2005 y., Wednesday
Twin opinion polls published show support for a "No" vote and rejection of the treaty is growing, at 53 and 54 percent against , the fourth and fifth negative polls in the last two weeks. Over the last six months French passion for this key measure of european integration has cooled. While the Constitution does attract cross-party support, the no camp deploys vocal opposition from far left and right, and some voices from the establishment parties. The Socialists have been all but split on the issue. Spokesman Julien Drey insists it is early days yet; "You mustn't forget that at least half of those polled said they hadn't made up their minds yet, so the results must be taken with a pinch of salt. Now the campaign is beginning". However details in the poll will worry the party leadership. It has papered over the cracks in the Socialist fortress, but the data shows the fissures are widening from the cellar to roof A big swing within the Socialist party puts the "No" camp now out in front. Too late, as the vote establishing policy is behind them, but with how much enthusiasm will every branch be campaigning? Pierre Giacometti is the boss of IPSOS polls;"For the last few weeks the left's electorate has got it into its head that the Constitution's the plan for a free-market europe, and at the same time there are background fears of social costs and economic weakness", is his analysis. If that sounds like a catch-all for the traditional French elector's desire to bloody the nose of a government when they are fed up about things, you may be right. It raises the political stakes, and makes this referendum one to watch.
Šaltinis: euronews.net
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.

Facebook Comments

New comment


Captcha

Associated articles

The most popular articles

Bears rescued from bile farm

Moon bears pierced with metal tubes to extract an ingredient used in medicine have been saved from captivity in China. more »

Georgian tries to revive circus art

Georgian acrobat Ramaz Garshaulishvili is trying to revive interest in the circus by demonstrating his rope walking skills. more »

My wardrobe? That'll be the oven

The latest trend for New Yorkers who are low on storage space - storing clothes in the oven and kitchen cupboards. more »

Environment, extreme poverty causing refugee problems - UN's Guterres

Around the world 10 million people live in refugee camps - more than the population of several small European Union countries combined. more »

World Press Freedom Day: Commission launches 2010 Lorenzo Natali Prize for development journalism

On World Press Freedom Day on 3 May the Commission will officially launch the Lorenzo Natali Prize for 2010. more »

No day at the beach in Albania

What was once some of Albania's most beautiful coastline has been turned into toxic dumping grounds. Deborah Lutterbeck reports. more »

Capsule apartments for China's poor

A set of two-square-metre capsule apartments in Beijing give struggling individuals a chance to have their own space. more »

World Bank leaps to tigers' defense

The World Bank is adding its weight to efforts to save the world's endangered tigers. more »

Denmark's Little Mermaid in China

The statue of the Little Mermaid that has sat atop Copenhagen's harbour for nearly a hundred years is unveiled at the Shanghai World Expo. more »

China cannons tackle trash stench

Beijing city officials have come up with a novel way to combat the stench of the city's growing rubbish tips. more »