PARIS, 31 May 2005 — President Jacques Chirac, jolted into action by the stinging defeat of the European Union’s constitution in a referendum, set in motion a government shakeup yesterday with his beleaguered prime minister expected to be the main victim.
Chirac will announce “his decisions regarding the government” today and address the nation this evening, his office said.
The highly unpopular Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin met with Chirac yesterday morning. The president also summoned leading figures who might replace Raffarin, including prominent Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin and Nicolas Sarkozy, the ambitious head of the governing party who is also a Chirac rival with an eye on the 2007 presidential election.
The prime minister — in office since May 2002 — called together his aides to bid them farewell. The aides were seen packing up boxes as Raffarin met with Chirac. After the 30-minute meeting, Raffarin confirmed “there will be developments today or tomorrow.”
Chirac also reached beyond French borders to control damage from France’s firm rejection on Sunday of Europe’s first constitution, speaking with several heads of state and EU officials.
The referendum results were a humiliating blow to Chirac and a disavowal of his government, left reeling by the decisive victory of those rejecting the constitution — some 55 percent. Polls, analysts and voters confirmed that some casting ballots were looking to punish a government they feel has failed them.
Also thrown into disarray was the future of the EU. Plans to bind the 25 EU members more tightly together through a constitution could be set back for years.
The 12-nation euro currency hit a seven-month low, falling to $1.2471 in afternoon European trading before bouncing back almost a cent.
Chirac tried to ease concern within the EU, speaking by telephone with the leaders of Germany, Britain and Spain as well as current EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and EU President Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker.
“He confirmed that France, a founding member of the European Union, would continue to work with partners in the spirit of European construction,” presidential spokesman Jerome Bonnafont said.
Chirac said that “to his mind” the ratification process should continue in other countries. Chirac chose to hold a referendum rather than take the EU constitution to Parliament, where it would have passed with a wide majority. He worked quickly yesterday to control damage.
The Netherlands is holding its referendum tomorrow and polls there show even more resistance to the constitution. The document must be ratified by all 25 EU members, in referendums or by Parliament, to take effect in November 2006. France was the first to reject it. The “no” victory in France symbolizes “a terrible feeling of fear and concern about the future,” said government spokesman Jean-Francois Cope.
Final results showed that 54.68 percent of voters opposed the constitution. With a 69.3 percent turnout, the referendum result left Chirac little choice but change.
