Word: referendums
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That’s where France comes in. Whereas most heads of state chose to have the treaty ratified by the surefire approach of a parliamentary vote, ten others, including Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac, and Rodríguez Zapatero, daringly preferred to call a high-stakes popular referendum. High-stakes indeed, since the treaty requires unanimous ratification of all the member states and one vote gone wrong can spoil the party for everybody. The trouble is that the last thirteen polls have the French voting “no” on May 29, and Chirac is getting nervous. Last...
...inertia of trade liberalization, and to economic muscle without any special political merit. Worst of all, the proposal is so hopelessly lengthy and technical that it is incapable of stimulating the least enthusiasm among European citizens. On February 20, 77 percent of Spaniards approved the treaty by referendum, but the turnout, at 42 percent, was the lowest of any national vote since the death of Franco...
...French bookstores—will have to confront the dangerous misconceptions spread by promoters of the “yes” vote. To pressure voters to join his position, Chirac would have them believe it will be the end of Europe and the end of France if the referendum fails, when really, the end of Chirac is the worst that could happen. Furthermore, with the help of sloppy journalists, the constitution’s advocates have irresponsibly conflated opposition to the treaty with opposition to European integration (which is déjà vu for those Americans who were...
...more militant Democratic Unionists. Normally fierce rivals, the two men joined forces to oppose the Anglo-Irish rapprochement. Jointly they protested, first by letter and then by visiting 10 Downing Street to make their case in person. They demanded that Thatcher submit any proposed agreement on Ulster to a referendum in the province, where loyalist Protestants outnumber the Catholic population by about...
French President Jacques Chirac sent TV ratings soaring last week during his appearance championing the yes vote for France's May 29 referendum on the European Union constitution. But he won few accolades for his performance. A peak audience of over 9 million prime-time viewers watched Chirac field questions from a carefully selected group of around 80 young people - an educational chat aimed at explaining the constitution and reversing the trend toward no. Chirac stressed that the constitution will protect Europe from "the ultraliberal current" of globalization rather than succumb to it as the no forces contend. He warned...