April 19, 2005
IT CAN'T BE VIOLENT ENOUGH:
Chirac Cabinet tears itself apart over EU constitution (Charles Bremner, 4/19/05, Times of London)
THE prospect of France rejecting the European constitution ignited a blazing Cabinet row yesterday after President Chirac signalled that he aims to sack Jean-Pierre Raffarin, the Prime Minister, whether the country votes “yes” or “no”.M Raffarin, whose unpopularity is deemed to be a big factor in the troubles of the “yes” campaign for the May 29 referendum, rounded on Dominique de Villepin, the Interior Minister and close ally of the President, over damning remarks that he made against his own Government.
After a meeting with M Chirac, M de Villepin said that whatever the result in the referendum, “we will need policies that are much more determined, bolder and more socially conscious . . . in order to take into account the feelings, aspirations and frustrations which are being expressed”.
His words, on national radio, were interpreted as a message to voters from M Chirac that he had understood their grievances against his Government and would sacrifice M Raffarin after the referendum.
At a breakfast Cabinet meeting yesterday, M Raffarin tore into M de Villepin and the two had what officials called “a very violent dispute”.
Posted by Orrin Judd at April 19, 2005 11:58 AM
A no vote by France would be so catastrophic to the EU that I figure the EU apparatus will do whatever it can to prevent it from happening - i.e. the Washington governors race - count and count until you get the win and then stop counting.
Posted by: AWW at April 19, 2005 7:34 PMM Raffarin tore into M de Villepin and the two had what officials called a very violent dispute.
We can hope there will be no survivors.
Posted by: Robert Schwartz at April 19, 2005 9:21 PMPerhaps they swatted each other with copies of the EU constitution.
And is Sarkozy waiting in the wings, quietly smiling?
Posted by: ratbert at April 19, 2005 10:24 PMM de Villepin said that whatever the result in the referendum, "we will need policies that are much more determined, bolder and more socially conscious . . . in order to take into account the feelings, aspirations and frustrations which are being expressed."
One might presume that that is indeed what governing is (though presumably, in France, it is new and revolutionary doctrine). Thus, the only interpretation of this honeyed phrase: "We're going to have to bribe 'em a bit better than we've been doing thus far."
One gets the feeling that Raffarin has had enough of this effete, neo-Napoleanesque poetaster.
The cracks in the edifice caused, unavoidably, by France's blatant, internal contradictions are now coming to the surface. Collapse is imminent, and damage control will now be fast and furious. Bad poetry, pious platitudinizing---and imbecilic policy---just won't cut it, especially now that the economic cushion has been exposed and drastically reduced.
Still, no one should enjoy the spectacle.
Posted by: Barry Meislin at April 20, 2005 4:53 AM