Oh Non!
Well, France has officially rejected the EU Constitution in a referendum held yesterday. Even though France was one of the leading forces in the creation of the EU, and in recent years has optimistically viewed the EU as a counterweight to US power, in the end the French decided that they were too good to possibly share a system of government with a Muslim nation (as is my suspicion). Maybe this will only be a temporary protest, as was de Gaulle's departure from NATO in the late 60's, or maybe this will permanently derail any further EU consolidation; only time will tell.
Thoughts/ comments welcome.
Thoughts/ comments welcome.
posted by Rich at 10:41 AM
3 Comments:
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News agencies are widely reporting that France's bitch slap at Chirac is cuz they just like their brand of nationalism (and yen for subsidies) too much. I think that's mostly true, but I also think the French saw the center of gravity in Europe shifting east (Poland, et al) and just wanted to show everyone that they still think they're in charge. The next government should be able to recover the momentum if it can de-emphasize some of the more odious (to the French) economic language of the Constitution.
Yeah, also I think the French (and generally continental) reluctance to give up their rediculous public welfare system under the proposed EU reforms is also playing a role. I mean, we're talking about a couintry that has a 35 hour work week. Homestly, I dont even know why European governments are putting the constitution to referendums when they are also allowed to just have their parliaments vote on it. Maybe Hamilton was right...
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