OUI OR NON, EU INSISTS THAT THE VOTING GOES ON

Faced with 21 consecutive opinion polls showing the No camp ahead in France, pro-constitution EU leaders have begun asserting that there is a moral, political and even a legal obligation to carry on voting - an argument aimed squarely at Britain.

The key to their "Plan B" is to insist that countries due to hold votes later this year - or even next year, like Britain - carry on regardless of the result in France until all 25 member states have been given a chance to ratify the treaty.

On the surface, there is no basis for holding further referendums if the French vote No. The draft European Union constitution must be ratified by all member states, and a French No should effectively kill the treaty.

However, the EU was not built by letting details like No votes sway its founding fathers from their mission. After the Maastricht Treaty was voted down in Denmark and Ireland, both countries were invited to vote again, and finally voted Yes.

Their argument is founded on an obscure declaration tacked on to the end of the draft constitution that says that if, by December 2006, four fifths of the 25 states have ratified the treaty but "one of more member states have encountered difficulties [e.g., voting it down] in proceeding with ratification", then "the matter will be referred" to a summit of EU heads of state and government.

One EU diplomat said: "If President Chirac says the French won't vote twice, then the idea that other countries are going to go on to ratify is laughable. For one thing, how exactly do you go about winning a Yes campaign in another country, if the French have made clear they are going to veto the constitution at the end?"

Jack is not the only EU prince "encountering difficulties":

POLL BOOST FOR DUTCH EUROSCEPTICS

Several opinion polls indicate that Dutch voters plan to reject the EU constitution in the 1 June referendum.

An internet poll released on Monday showed that 60% of respondents opposed the constitution. The poll, conducted by the Institute for Public and Politics, asked 7,500 people how they were planning to vote.

A poll published on Sunday by the Centre for Political Participation similarly found that only 42% of voters backed the treaty.

Last week a foreign ministry poll showed that 52% would support the constitution, with only 30% opposing it.

Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot said poll results were mixed and that both Dutch and French people might change their minds once they were better informed on the issue.

The negative polls followed Saturday's mail distribution of non-partisan leaflets aiming to inform the 12 million Dutch voters about the constitution.

Yes. Well, information seems to be doing the trick nicely.

Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot said poll results were mixed and that both Dutch and French people might change their minds once they were better informed on the issue.

"Better informed" or "more effectively indoctrinated"?

No, Doug, I'm with BB on this one. Before the informative mailing the Dutch favored the constitution 52% with a puny 30% in opposition. After the mailing, an informed Dutch electorate is 60% opposed.

Of course, the French are against the constitution -- their own invention -- because Jack's anti-Americanism no longer thrills them and the future terrifies them.

Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Ile-de-France anymore. Stability Pact! Wolfowitz! Bolkestein! Oh my!

DGB

I finally came up with a Chirac quote, I know it is kind of late, but here goes. "L'EU? C'est moi!"

Chirac just needs a good PR campaign to in favor of the EU constitution. How 'bout: "The EU and France - made for each other!" or "More bureaucrats means more employment!" or "Higher taxes, more regulations, more government - just give it a chance".