PARIS, 30 May 2005 — French voters rejected the European Union’s proposed constitution yesterday, President Jacques Chirac said, delivering a stunning blow to the 25-nation bloc’s ambitions.
Chirac announced the result in a short televised address. He said that the process of ratifying the treaty would nevertheless continue in other EU countries.
“France has expressed itself democratically,” Chirac said. “It is your sovereign decision, and I take note.”
The rejection in a bitterly contested referendum in France — the cradle of continental unity and an architect of the European project — was a humiliation for Chirac and it promised to shake the EU to its core.
To go into effect as planned by Nov. 1, 2006, it needs ratification in all member nations, either by referendum or parliamentary vote. Nine countries had previously voted in favor of the charter.
Leading “no” campaigner Philippe de Villiers pronounced the treaty dead last night, declaring: “There is no more constitution.”
“The people have massively said ‘no’,” he said. “It is necessary to reconstruct Europe on other foundations that don’t currently exist.”
De Villiers called on Chirac to submit his resignation — something the French leader had said he would refuse to do — and called for Parliament to be dissolved. “Tonight we face a major political crisis,” he said.
Extreme-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, who campaigned vigorously for the constitution’s defeat, also called for Chirac’s resignation.
Chirac “wanted to gamble... and he has lost,” Le Pen said. “We are living a historic moment.”
The vote came three days before the charter looks likely to face a hostile reception in the Netherlands.
France’s rejection, the first in Europe, could set the continent’s plans back by years, and perhaps even kill the proposed constitution which was agreed on by EU leaders in October.
EU officials had said that even if France rejects the treaty efforts to ratify it in other countries would proceed, and they have been vague on whether the treaty might be somehow renegotiated or submitted to a repeat vote.
After nearly 90 percent of votes had been counted, the French Interior Ministry said the “no” camp had 55.96 percent, compared to 44.04 for “yes.” Over 66 percent of the electorate voted in the referendum.
Chirac said he would announce decisions concerning his conservative government in the next few days. He said voters had expressed “worries and hopes” during the debate on the EU constitution. “I intend to respond to that by giving a new and strong impetus to the action of the government. In coming days I will announce my decisions on the government and its priorities.”
Chirac added: “The decision of France inevitably creates a difficult context for the defense of our interests in Europe.”
The French vote was a popular revolt against Brussels, Austrian far-right politician Joerg Haider said. “This is a revolt by the people against the bureaucrats in Brussels,” Haider said in a panel discussion on ORF public television.
