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

Pets being abandoned due to recession

As families across the United States struggle to keep their homes and their jobs, they are having to make all kinds of sacrifices - including giving up their pets. more »

Energy MEPs back more energy efficient buildings

Unless you are lucky enough to be sitting in a park with a laptop, then if you are reading this you are probably in one of the 160 million buildings in the European Union. more »

Germany bans GM maize

Germany's decided to ban the cultivation - and sale - of maize with genetically modified organisms, also known as GMOs. more »

White House to get new First Dog

U.S president Barack Obama has lived up to his election night promise. A new First Dog will soon be gracing the lawns of the White House. more »

Gay elephant conservation row

Ninio - bull elephant to come to Poznan Zoo in Poland - is suspected of being gay and unlikely to be much help in creating any baby elephants at the zoo. more »

Lawn mowers? Nah. We got goats!

The New York town of Hempstead bought five Nigerian dwarf baby goats for removing weeds at a park. more »

Easter bunny egg-stravaganza

Pensioner Bernhard Nermerich and his wife Michaela, love nothing more than preparing to celebrate Easter. more »

Interview with Anna Záborská - Women's Rights Committee Chair

The impact of poverty on women and the work-life balance are just two issues the Women's Rights Committee had tackled over the last Parliamentary term. more »

Romania's longest wedding dress

No-one has bought it yet but this wedding dress is already proving to be a tourist attraction in Romania. more »

What role can women play in the economic crisis?

More than 100 Irish women leaders (and some men), from all walks of life, came together to exchange views on the economic crisis at a special one-day conference entitled "Challenges to Irish women in the current economic climate" held in Dublin on 4 April. more »