April 23, 2005
MUCH AS WE'D HATE TO GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR ANYTHING...:
Poll puts French opposition to EU constitution at 60 per cent (John Lichfield, 23 April 2005, The Independent)
Signs of deep alarm have appeared in the leadership of the European Union as new polls show a hardening of French opposition to the EU constitution.A European Commission spokeswoman said: "It is clear the Commission is worried by the statistics." Peter Mandelson, the EU trade commissioner, said of rejection: "At best [the EU], would stagnate. At worst, we would see a form of chaos. It could have damaging economic consequences."
There has been a flurry of contradictory opinion polls in France. Two found the "no" vote had strengthened to 58 per cent, or even 62 per cent, of those likely to turn out for the referendum on 29 May.
Another survey, by one of the most reliable French polling organisations, found the no vote had fallen back for the first time in a month. The CSA/Le Parisien poll suggested that likely votes were neck and neck again: 52 per cent "yes'' and 48 per cent for no.
France hasn't done anything worthwhile as a nation in centuries, but this would be praiseworthy. Posted by Orrin Judd at April 23, 2005 3:21 PM
Champagne was a civilizational acheivement.
Posted by: Robert Schwartz at April 23, 2005 3:30 PMThe EU could try a Democratic Party-type solution -- steal the election. There must be lots of dead people and prisoners, and people who could vote multiple times at multiple locations, in a country as corrupt as France.
Posted by: Steve at April 23, 2005 4:14 PMOpinion polls are often unreliable in France, partly because some people lie to pollsters.
That's worthwhile, isn't it?
Posted by: Peter B at April 23, 2005 4:49 PMLate last night C-SPAN showed the townhall meeting Chirac had staged earlier in the week with a group of young voters. It was the funniest thing to come out of France since La Cage Aux Folles.
Posted by: MB at April 23, 2005 5:37 PMThe funny thing is, the groupthink-spawned abortion that is the EU constitution could've been avoided by simply adopting the US system- one house by population and the other equal representation by country. I guess their brains must be too highly developed to come up with anything so simple.
France IS La Cage Aux Folles...or at least Aux Poulets. They'll have to do a lot more than this to earn the favor of another American invasion.
Posted by: Noel at April 23, 2005 7:06 PMLocal paper had an article about a left-wing anti-constitution meeting in France. One of the arguments they used was: 'George Bush is in favor'.
I guess this was a case of reverse psychology by GW Bush (given that he is normally in favor of freedom). Hopefully the 3rd time within a century that the Americans liberate Europe.