FRANCE ONCE MORE I seem to be at odds with France once again.
This time it came about rather suddenly, when, in yesterday's voting, the French people refused approval for the new European Union constitution. They are the first nation which has disapproved the document which was largely formulated in France. Exactly how much damage has been done to the overall project is uncertain at this time.
The vote in France brought out about seventy per cent of eligible voters which is high but opposition has centered on the problems presently associated with France's rising unemployment figures, a fear of foreign workers flooding the work areas, and, in general, all opposition against President Jacques Chirac which has been aroused to help defeat the acceptance of anything to do with European Union.
About fifty-five percent of the eligible voters opposed the Union. A few days earlier the voters of Netherlands faced a like situation. Opposition to European Union was louder and more organized than it was in France but EU supporters in the Netherlands mounted a damage control program which was designed to overcome fears of failure and wild cases of being inundated with free market workers and wares.
Political factions will make the most of this. The have declared EU to be dead. They have called for the resignation of J. Chirac. Twenty-five nations must sign. Nine have done so. Austria, Hungary, Italy, Greece, Germany, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. The date we must all keep in mind will be: November l, 2006.
Will France fare better as the only holdout?
A.L.M. May 30, 2005 [c274wds]
