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

EU position on blue fin tuna ban debated Tuesday

The fate of blue fin tuna hangs in the balance this week as a complete ban on the trade is debated by MEPs. more »

Programs for Climate Action Get Underway With $400 million for Forests and $300 million for Renewables

A $100 million pledge from the Government of Japan has helped to secure the funding base and launch the operational phase of two new climate programs supporting forest management and renewable energy investments in developing countries. more »

Taking Europe’s pulse

Europeans quite happy with their personal situation, but less satisfied with economic and social climate in their country. more »

Spain wants to progress the incorporation of human rights and fundamental freedoms into Community law "as much as possible"

Spain wishes to “make as much progress as possible” to ensure the EU becomes party to the Council of Europe's Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms soon, according to the Spanish Minister for Justice, Francisco Caamaño, at today's opening of a seminar on the challenges and possibilities arising from the Treaty of Lisbon coming into force. more »

Belarusian children’s store eyes expansion

According to Belarusian tradition, a stork brings good fortune to the village it settles in while in western culture the stork is commonly associated with childbirth. more »

World Bank Approves US $20 Million in Additional Financing for Moldova’s Social Investment Fund II Project

The World Bank Board of Directors today approved an additional financing credit to the Republic of Moldova in the amount of US $20 million for the Social Investment Fund II Project. more »

Eighty million Europeans live in poverty

The Spanish Health and Social Policy Minister, Trinidad Jiménez, and the European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Vladimir Spidla, addressed the press in Madrid on the launch of the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion 2010. more »

EU launches 2010 European Year: Stop poverty now!

The European Commission and the Spanish Presidency of the EU will tomorrow launch the 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. more »

Spain proposes tougher smoking ban

Smoking at a restaurant like this one in Spain could soon be a thing of the past. Spanish lawmakers want to stub out the habit in public places like bars and restaurants. But it's an unpopular proposal in a country where around 30 percent of the population smoke. more »

Statement by President Mario Sepi: Earthquake in Haiti: European civil society and all the institutions must provide help and support to Haiti's population

As President of the European Economic and Social Committee, I would like, on behalf of all the Committee's members, to express my sympathy to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. more »