RATING
AND DEBATE
Decided
During
the traditional Bastille Day speech 2004, President Jacques Chirac
announced that his country would have a referendum on the Constitution.
The French Constitutional court decided on 19 November 2004 that
the French Constitution must be altered before the draft European
Constitution can be ratified in France. The Court cited justice
and foreign policy as the main areas requiring changes to the Constitution.
In a New Year's address on television French President Jacques Chirac
said that the referendum would be held before summer. He urged voters
not to reject the Constitution out of fear of Turkey's possible
entry to the EU, saying the two issues were entirely separated.
He also warned the country's politicians against turning the referendum
into an opportunity for domestic political fight. "I know all
too well that there is also a temptation to twist the referendum
for political gain. The stakes involved in the European Constitution
are national and European," Chirac said.
The
Socialist Party held a crucial internal referendum on the Constitution
on 1 December 2004. After a campaign that had split the French Left,
the 'yes' camp received 58 per cent of the vote, while the "no"
camp got 42 per cent. The "oui" side - led by party leader
Francois Hollande - had argued that saying "non" to the
Constitution would destabilise Europe and also the socialist party
itself, allowing the centre-right to triumph in the next Presidential
elections. The "no" side, headed by deputy leader Laurent
Fabius, had claimed that the text could and should be improved and
must be rejected in its current form.
At the
beginning of February, the General Labour Confederation (CGT), the
country's largest trade union, voted in its national committee to
reject the Constitution.
The Green party was largely favourable to the Constitution. Opposition
to the Constitution was argued by Le Pen's National Front as well
as by Philippe de Villiers on the right and by former interior minister
Jean-Pierre Chevenement on the left.
The
National Assembly voted on 01.02.2005 on a bill to amend the French
constitution and on 28.02.2005 France's deputies and senators opened
the way for a referendum on the adoption of the EU Constitution
by voting to amend the French constitution in an extraordinary joint
session at the palace of Versailles. The amendment, with 730 votes
for, 66 against and with 96 abstentions, set the scene for President
Jacques Chirac to call a plebiscite on the EU basic law. The amendments
also meant that any future accession to the EU - after Bulgaria,
Romania and Croatia - must be submitted to a national referendum.
Finally on 04.03.2005 President Jacques Chirac set May 29 as the
date for the French referendum on the Constitution.
A
comparison between different surveys shows that the gap between
a "yes" and a "no" vote was declining during
September 2004 and May 2005. The results of a poll made in December
2004 revealed that 57 per cent was in this time in favour of a yes
and 43 per cent in favour of a no. However, in September 2004 64
per cent would have voted in favour of the Constitution. In February
2005, according to a poll carried out by the Journal du Dimanche,
46 per cent were still undecided about how they would vote. Only
25 per cent said they would vote in favour while 20 per cent said
they would vote against. More than half of people said they were
"not interested" in the debate on the Constitution. During
spring 2005 diferent polls had also shown a gradual erosion of support
for the treaty. In part, this was because the question had become
infected by other issues, ranging from Turkish membership of the
EU to the unpopularity of Jean-Pierre Raffarin's centre-right government.
The opponents of the Constitution also identified the emerging debate
on the services directive as a strongly related campaign issue.
Senior analyst Philippe Moreau de Farge, of the Paris-based French
Institute for International Relations said, "There is a confusion,
a comparison between the EU and [economic] globalization, given
that the economic and social situation in France at present is bad.
And in the end result, Europe is seen as [the vehicle for] this
globalization."
According to a survey by TNS Sofres published by Le Monde on 17.03.2005,
public support for the European Constitution dropped to 56%. The
"no" vote was strongest on the left, with 71% of Communist
party members and 47% of Socialist party supporters opposing to
the Constitution. On the right 70% of supporters of President Jacques
Chirac's UMP said they would vote for the Constitution. A survey
on 22.03.05 showed that 69 per cent of farmers were against the
Constitution.
On
29.05.2005 France overwhelmingly rejected the European Constitution.
Reacting to the result, President Jacques Chirac called it the "sovereign
decision" of the French people. He
added also referred to the implications of the no vote saying "the
decision of France inevitably creates a difficult context for defending
our interests in Europe".
The
Eurobarometer study, the European Constitution: post-referendum
survey in France published in June 2005 (PDF),
showed that the main reason for rejecting the treaty was fear that
it would have a negative effect on employment (31%), the second
reason was that people felt that the economic situation in France
was bad (26%) followed by the belief that the Constitution was too
economically liberal, and 3 per cent said that enlargement was the
reason for their "no" vote while 6 per cent voted against
Turkish membership.
Asked about the consequences of their vote, 62% of French people
thought that the "no" vote would mean the Constitution
would be renegotiated to be more social.
Eurobarometer
(2006), The Future of Europe - Results for France,
Special Eurobarometer 251, Fieldwork: 23/02 – 15/03 2006.
(PDF)
Eurobarometer
report, (February 2004): 81%
rather agree, 14% rather disagree*
*Are
you rather agree or rather disagree with the statement: The European
Union must adopt a Constitution.
Eurobarometer
report, (January 2005): 48% favourable, 17% opposed*
*Based
on what you know, would you say that you are in favour of or opposed
to the draft European Constitution?
Eurobarometer
report, (July 2005): 60% favourable, 28% opposed*
*Based
on the question, are you for or against a constitution for the European
Union?
Latest
News
17.05.2006
French would still vote 'no' to EU constitution, EUobserver.com
Almost a year
after France rejected the EU constitution in a popular referendum,
fresh research has revealed that French voters would still say "no"
to the treaty today.
24.08.2005
Internet was strong forum for French 'no' vote. EUobserver.com
14.07.2005
Chirac says he was not humiliated by EU referendum defeat. EUbusiness.com
06.07.2005
French and Dutch should vote again on EU treaty: Belgian FM. EUbusiness.com
28.06.2005
Enlargement played small role in constitution no votes. EUobserver.com
27.06.2005
A month after French no, Europe still reeling. EUbusiness.com
22.06.2005
French PM to consult parties after EU constitution vote. EUbusiness.com
16.06.2005
Respect our "no" vote, say French protesters. EUbusiness.com
07.06.2005
French want EU constitution renegotiated: poll. EUbusiness.com
Former
News...
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RELEVANT
DOCUMENTS AND MATERIAL
LH2 / Libération,
Les
Français et le Référendum sur le Traité
Constitutionnel Européen, Sondage, Mai 2006. (PDF) (French)
Université
de Technologie de Compiègne (2005), Le
web et le débat sur la constitution européenne en
France, réseaux, territoires & géographie
de l'information project.
Reynié,
D. (2005), 29
mai 2005, un paysage dynamité, Analyse, Robert Schuman
Foundation, June 2005. (French) (PDF)
Eurobarometer,
The
European Constitution: post-referendum survey in France, June
2005. (PDF)
Link:
IPSOS: Les sondages sortis des urnes (SSU) - Comparatif 29 mai 2005
/ 20 septembre 1992 (HTML)
The Federal
Trust, EU
Constitution Newsletter, with country reports on the Netherlands
and France, June 2005, (PDF)
President Chirac,
declaration on results of French referendum, 29.05.2005, (HTML)
Nicolas Sarozy,
speech concerning the results of French referendum, 29.05.2005,
(HTML)
François
Hollande, speech concerning the results of French referendum, 29.05.2005,
(HTML)
Jean-Marie
Le Pen, declaration on results of French referendum, 29.05.2005,
(HTML)
Gordon, P.H.
(2005), Why
The French Vote Was Bad For America, Center on the United States
and Europe, Commentary, 01.06.2005. (HTML)
de
Boisgrollier, N. (2005), The
French Political Landscape After the "Non", Center
on the United States and Europe, U.S. Europe Analysis Series, 01.06.2005.
(HTML)
Link:
French
Ministry of Interior: Résultats du référendum
du 29 mai 2005 (HTML)
Palmer, J. (2005),
A
European Treaty Wounded: A European Union Disoriented, EPC Commentary,
29.05.2005. (HTML)
Torreblanca,
J. I.; de Areilza Carvajal, J.M. (2005), ¿Qué
hacer si gana el "No"?, Real Instituto Elcano, 24.5.2005.
(HTML)
Ricard-Nihoul,
G.; Larhant, M. (2005), Cómo
explicar lo inesperado: una evaluación del referéndum
constitucional francés, Real Instituto Elcano, 24.5.2005.
(HTML)
Centre for European
Reform, What
happens if France votes No?, CER briefing note, 13.05.2005.
(PDF)
Donnelly, B.;
Wagner, M. (2005), What
do French Voters want from the European Constitution, European
Policy Brief 11, The Federal Trust, May 2005.
Metz, A. (2005),
"Ein
starkes Frankreich in einer starken EU" - Beobachtungen zum
französischen Referendum zur EU-Verfassung, CAP Kommentar,
09.05.2005. (HTML)
Hughes, K. (2005),
A French
'no': looming crisis for Europe?, EPIN Commentary, May 2005.
(HTML)
Ricard-Nihoul,
G.; Larhant, M. (2005), How
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The Federal
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Link:
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en France / French polls on the Constitution (HTML)
González
Vallvé, L. (2005), España
y Francia frente al referéndum constitucional: entre la inquietud
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Leonard, M.,
(2005), Europe
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Donnelly, B.
and Wagner, M. (2005), What
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Keohane, D.
(2005), A
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Wagner, M. (2005),
France
and the Referendum on the EU Constitution, European Policy Brief,
The Federal Trust, March 2005.
Boisgroillier,
N. (2005), Will
the EU Constitution Survive a Referendum in France?, U.S.-Europe
Analysis Series, Center on the United States and Europe, March 2005.
Link:
French Presidency's official site regarding the European Constitution,
(HTML)
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Wanlin, A. (2005),
Will
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Larhant, M.
(2005), Country
Report: France, EPIN Ratification Monitor, February 2005.
French Senat,
Projet de loi Constitutionnelle modifiant le titre XV de la Constitution,
Dossier législatif, Dossier d'information, 01.03.2005, (HTML)
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(HTML)
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Décision
du Conseil constitutionnel de la République française
de la question de savoir si l'autorisation de ratifier le traité
établissant une Constitution pour l'Europedoit être
précédée d'une révision de la Constitution,
Décision n° 2004-505 DC, 19.11.2004, HTML,
PDF
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Report, 01.07.2004, (French)
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(HTML)
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um die EU-Verfassung in Frankreich, SWP-Aktuell 2004/54.
The Federal
Trust, EU
Constitution Newsletter, September 2004, with country reports
on Austria and France. |
