The Guardian 8 June, 2005
French, Dutch:
EU votes create shockwave
As French voters decisively said "Non" and Dutch voters said "Nee" to the draft European
Union constitution, the question of a new constitution for the 25-nation bloc was left in
question last week. The French vote, in which 55 percent rejected the 325-page draft
document, led to thousands of people, particularly workers and youth, celebrating in the
streets.
Only 13 départments (municipalities) showed a majority vote for the constitution. 83 had majorities
against. In the more working class areas, the vote against was often over 70 per cent. Sixty percent
of under-25's and 80 percent of manual workers voted against.
The draft constitution was designed to strengthen the dominance of the major powers, in particular
France and Germany, and take the unification of EU states to a higher political, military and
economic level.
The document contained many clauses that would have bound EU members to the pursuit of
economic rationalist policies. These included privatisation, destruction of public services, ending of
state subsidies to industry, increased arms spending, military subordination to NATO and
increased competition between workers throughout Europe in order to bring down
wages.
The draft contained the all too familiar hollow phrases about human rights.
It caused an immediate shake-up in the government, with President Jacques Chirac appointing
Dominique de Villepin to replace Jean-Pierre Raffarin as prime minister. Fallout from the vote is
expected to reverberate for weeks.
French workers and farmers voted in large numbers against the constitution, citing fears that it
would strengthen the hand of the big monopolies and result in further assaults on living standards,
pensions, democratic rights and other hard-won gains.
The Communist Party of France (PCF) was among the draft's most vocal and active opponents.
The "no" vote coalition included other left groups and some elements of the far right.
Despite appeals from the leadership of the ruling Socialist Party to vote for the constitution, a solid
majority of its members voted against it.
"This 'no' of our people is a European no, generous and in solidarity", said PCF National Secretary
Marie-George Buffet. "It is an invitation to those who are organised in other countries, and on the
level of Europe itself, for another Europe. Through this we give the hope to create a force so strong
that it will dictate the direction of the renegotiation of the treaty."
The treaty must be passed by all 25 member states to take effect. It has already been passed by
parliamentary vote in 10 nations, including Germany, Spain and Italy. The French rejection, though,
leaves many questioning whether other nations will continue with the ratification
process.
After the French vote, opposition to the draft surged in the Netherlands, where there was already a
majority against it. In a statement, the New Communist Party of the Netherlands said, "The French
population has not let itself be intimidated. A clear majority most wisely stopped the project to neo-
liberalise Europe. … Also, in our own country … the resistance against the hard economies will be
given in a political form."
British politicians have called for a "period of reflection" after the French and Dutch votes. Great
Britain had been loosely scheduled to have a vote on the EU constitution next spring.
Ireland and Portugal, however, will go forward with their planned referenda. It is likely that June's
EU summit will decide whether or not the ratification process should continue.
The constitution would set rules for the decision-making process of the EU, which is based in
Brussels. However, many critics say that it lays out too many detailed policies, making it impossible
for future generations to escape a corporate-controlled, militarised Europe.
The treaty would also give the bloc a president and foreign minister. While some claim it would
allow Europe to stand as a superpower competitor to the US, voters voiced concern that it would
simply allow Brussels to open Europe to a capitalist free-market model.
Acknowledgements to Jennifer Barnett (People's Weekly World)
for material used in this article.