FRENCH REJECT EUROPE'S FIRST CONSTITUTION
PARIS May 29, 2005 (AP) - "France has expressed itself democratically," Chirac said. "It is your sovereign decision, and I take note."Earlier, the Interior Ministry said that with about 83 percent of the votes counted, the referendum was rejected by 57.26 percent of voters. It was supported by 42.74 percent.
Chirac, who urged voters to approve the charter, announced the result in a brief, televised address.
No third term for Jack. Time to look into that senator-for-life thing.
BACKDATE 05.28.05: Jack pleads incompetence in the face of British market-theory Juggernaut.
Government sources are braced for the French president to round on the Prime Minister and blame him for making the constitution too "Anglo-Saxon" on economic issues and for plunging Europe into crisis as a result.
And it was only yesterday that Mr. Blair was so much blancmange in Jack's big French mitt.
HIGH TURNOUT FOR FRENCH REFERENDUM
PARIS May 29 (AFP) - Two out of three French voters had turned out by 7pm Sunday to cast their ballots in the country's hotly-contested referendum on the EU constitution, the interior ministry said.The ministry said 66.24 percent of the country's 42 million eligible voters had already participated in Sunday's referendum, with polls due to close in most of the country at 8:00 pm, and at 10:00 pm in Paris and Lyon.
Pollsters remained prudent about how a high turnout would affect the outcome of Sunday's referendum, saying it could work to the advantage of either camp.
Hhmmm, well, there is prudence and then there are the plain headlines of two or so hours before this report was filed.
Wait a minute. This vote is not valid. They handed out the wrong ballots.
This is the corrected ballot.
Let's wait and see for a couple of days.
Just imagine Villepin becoming the next PM... This should be less fun, at least for us.
Oh and I'm not sure this will prevent Chirac from running a third time. Yesterday, members of the "no camp", mainly far-right and far-left "leaders", asked for Chirac's resignation. Members of Jack's government, including Barnier, said it was a unfounded and petty claim.
This country's as mad as ever.
Hi after so long...
Well,well. Now the fucking spaniards that votes Yes to that monster so called European Constitution must be very angry.
By the way yesterday in ROLANG GARROS, Rafael nadal, that amzing tennis player France will never dream to have, was severly threatened in the CENTRAL TENNIS COURT against that hooligan called Sebastien Grosjean.
Rafa was beating him easily and the FUCKING FROGS cant accept spanish superiority.
There's no fairplay in Roland Garros anymore, they did the same with Corretja, Arantxa, Costa and Venus Williams. But their inacceptable behaviour cannot hide is LACK OF TALENT.
FUCK YOU FRANCE!!! ROLAND GARROS IS SPANISH TERRITORY!!!
Hi after so long... (too)
Carine
Just imagine Villepin becoming the next PM... This should be less fun, at least for us.
I have no idea what strategy Chirac will choose : just put another prime minister would be seen as a puppet permutation and won't slow down the anger. There is already a big internal pressure (even fromm "allied" parties like UDF) for anticipated parliament election.
On the other side, more likely the other EU government will make a big pressure on Chirac for the less change as possible: This would change the constitution referendum in some kind of "machine to kick out unpopular government".
As far as I know, the Dutch government is even more unpopular than the French (Is it possible ??)
Polish, Poruguese governments have also problems.
So, too significative change would be a call "Say no and get rid of your current government"... unacceptable.
For my side I would see a deep change, I mean anticipated election, as the ONLY positive result of the nice shoot in our foot (if not feet and legs) we performed yesterday.
The only cement between all "NO" voters is the wish to blow the current government. So there is no "soft" solution possible What PM would be representative ? Choose Sarkozy ? Devilliers ? De Villepin ? Choose one and most of other "NO" voters will get even more frustrated. Then the Citizens must talk and this mean election..
I could read in LGF that "French did the right thing for wrong reasons" I would almost tell the reverse: "French did the wrong thing for SOME good reasons". Some other reason in background are total disaster like this xenophobic fear of the "Polish plumber".
The big mistake on my mind is that a constitution is not there to define a politic orientation "capitalist vs liberal". This is decided by parliament elections.
This constitution despite load of defaults gave 3 times more power to the EU parliament (Which unlike commission and council is elected). France weight in the decisions was encreased of 50%. The commission was assigned to examine a popular request (we call this pétition) when signed by > 1 000 000 persons.
I am not sure we can hope having another occasion to get this anytime soon.
PS: First broomstick we just got "somewhere": China as soon as the referendum result was known has canceled all concession they did to EU (export taxes). Good starting...
Victor,
Calm down amigo. I'd rather be a Spanish tennis player at Rolland Garros than a Black football player in Spain,eh, asswipe?
Pierre, am I to understand that you are anticipating a recall election simular to the referendum which brought Arnold Schwarzeneggar to power in California?
Hola, Victor!
PT - maybe they could usher in Johnny Depp.
Pierre, am I to understand that you are anticipating a recall election simular to the referendum which brought Arnold Schwarzeneggar to power in California?
Something like that, NB: although it is exceptional, this procedure is full part of the French constitution: When the president considere that he cannot do his job with the current government, he "dissolve" the parliament which trigger the election of a new one (The parliament is directly elected by citizens). From the result of these elections, the president MUST choose a PM who is "representative" of this result. That is why we have by times a president and a PM from opposite sides. Usually such balanced team are doing way better (or less bad) job than a President/PM team from the same party.
But wait, things are going fast down here. Keep cool Carine, don't worry, your hated DEVILpin looks today having few chance. He was more the solution to face an almost 50/50 victory/defeat than the total disaster of last Sunday.
And guess who is the current first bet? the hexagonal Swarzy? Sarkozy !!! Should I not be French I would have fun about this situation : One of the main reason of this NON was too much capitalism (called here "liberalism") as much within Europe than France, and the winner could be... One of the more ultras of the capitalist politician available down here.
Seems totally crazy but everything come out from a logic and there is a global consensus arounf Sarko as PM:
The politics: Chirac LOAT this guy and hopes that 2 years as PM in such condition will definately burn his wings for further career. The socialists are today deeeply divided between YES/NO supporters and can hardly be ready to face an election for now. They bet on Sarko's failure as PM too.
And the citizens ? They simply see him as the biggest change available right now. So nobody really care about his capitalism. Theu see him as someonr who "Tells what he does and does what he tells". In 3 words "A true leader".
Usually, I don't like that much the "true leaders" and those following them. But for this occasion, why not having this 2 years try ? He cannot do really so much worse than what is already done and, if really he is as clever and dynamic to manage France's interests than his own 's, It might help ?
On vit une époque formidable !!!
*Calm down amigo. I'd rather be a Spanish tennis player at Rolland Garros than a Black football player in Spain,eh, asswipe?*
Zoomerx, we have a problem of racism we must solve. And it's going to be hard to erradicate that crab from our stadiums.
But at least we are conscient of our bullshit. Not like you, that year after year behave like Saints Culottes in a tennis court every time a spaniard plays. And you don't regret at all, you think that's fine.
You did it with Corretja against Kuerten( he's not even French!!! how bitter must be for you to see Spaniards domination), you did it with Arantxa, and with Costa rellegating him to third order courts when he was the former champion.
All of them are extremely polite players, specially Arantxa, and they always felt the public crossed the line.
If you don't wanna support them is fine, but in a tennis court you can't behave like Robespierre.
By the way, this year we are gonna crash you again, and a spaniard will be champ.
Who hell was the ... who told that ??
But wait, things are going fast down here. Keep cool Carine, don't worry, your hated DEVILpin looks today having few chance. He was more the solution to face an almost 50/50 victory/defeat than the total disaster of last Sunday.
Hmmff... sorry for this false estimation, I must clean my cristal bowl... Or may be I can try a reconversion to tennis pronostics ?
This "new impulse" looks too much a cheap move to solve the polytical mess down here today. Anyway if really we want a change we have to do it in 2007 and, if possible choose wisely (this time).
Now I have quite good remind and consideration to De Villepin, exactly for the same reason, Carine you hate him ;-)
After all he has shown beeing able to defend the French point of view from unfavorable position. Could be what we need today to keep as much as possible of our status in Europe? And even (let's dream a bit) Europe in the world ?
By the way Victor :
By the way, this year we are gonna crash you again, and a spaniard will be champ.
"we" ??? Great!!!, I did not know you where playing tennis at Roland Garros !
Usualy I find tennis uterly boring (except some women's matches) but please, let us know when you play : I don't want to miss that :-D
A+
Pierre
Hmmff... sorry for this false estimation, I must clean my cristal bowl... Or may be I can try a reconversion to tennis pronostics ?
You should have done so a long time ago, Pierre.
Oh and Pierre, I don't hate anyone, I'm not that French. I'm partly Polish, remember?
Besides, Galouzeau is more laughable than hating material. Unfortunately for France, it is no time to laugh and it is a joke of very bad taste from Jack to choose him as France's new PM.
But at least we are conscient of our bullshit.
We too, look at the "No" vote... ;-)
Oh I see, and of course acts of idiocy are never condemned in France of course. I'm not even sure what you're refereing to frankly, do you have a link?
And you don't regret at all, you think that's fine
I don't think that's fine. I hate unruly sport fans, so do most people I know. Don't compare a few unruly tennis fan idiots and crowds of Spaniards hurling racist names at black players. It's even worse in "Spanish-speaking" Argentina, by the way. How do you like ethnic generalizations, Victor?
You did it with Corretja against Kuerten( he's not even French!!!
Kuerten is extremely popular in France, what's your point? So is McEnroe, even today (goes on French TV from time to time), and scores of "not even French" players. Grow up.
I'm not that French. I'm partly Polish, remember?
No I didn't... But wait ! it changes all ! As we obviouysly can't get our French part agreeing (In English language), let my Hungarian part send all kind regards to your Polish part.
This is Europe 8{D
A+
Pierre
Sounds like our French parts are already accepting the concept of a United Europe, at least biologically!
Carine, I hope your Polish part isn't a plumber.
Your French parts don't seem to like Polish plumbers for some reason.
Many Spanish players are widely popular at RG. The public favourites are not chosen according to their nationality - though naturally a French player will usually have a bigger support from the public.
Ferrero has been loved by RG supporters for years. El Mosquito is here known as The Little Prince. Corretja was designated twice as the tournament kindest player by the public and has always enjoyed a strong support here, even if during his finals against Kuerten he wasn't the public's choice - but that was against Kuerten, eh, the 3 times champion who was acclaimed during 10 minutes after a 3 round game and shaped a heart in the clay for the public.
Costa completely faded out after his 2002 win. Why would he play on the Central court against an unseeded player while he's not a seeded player? Last year winner Gaudio didn't play all his games on the Central, thoug he was a potential winner - Costa wasn't and will never be, alas.
And Aranxta was backed by the public during her 1994 winning game against French player Pierce, and 1998 game against Seles. Only when she played Graf -who was more beloved than Kuerten, if possible- she also had to face the public.
Nothing related to nationality here. Agassi, Safin, Ferrero, Kuerten are more popular than french Clement, Santoro or Grosjean.
