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| Sunday, 12 June 2005 |
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EU: 'Revolt against neo-liberalism' by J. Vitarana European Union (EU) plans for closer integration suffered a severe blow with the French voters saying 'Non' and Danish voters saying "Nee' to the draft European Constitution. The vote against the Constitution was 56 percent in France and 63 percent in the Netherlands. The negative vote forced French President Jaques Chirac to reconstitute the government under former Finance Minister Dominique de Villepin. The negative vote from these two founder members of the European Union will have serious repercussions in the rest of Europe. The Constitution as it is presented today has already become a dead letter according to certain analysts. For the draft Constitution to become law all 25 members of the EU should approve it. Now it is out of the question. Britain, which planned to hold a referendum on the EU Constitution has shelved the proposal. Referendums are also scheduled to be held in Luxemburg, Ireland, Poland and the Czech Republic. EU leadership fears that the French and Danish vote may have a domino effect. On the other hand already 10 member states have ratified the Constitution through a parliamentary vote without going in for popular referendums. An earlier scheduled meeting of the EU leadership next week in Brussels will decide whether to go ahead with the ratification process or overhaul it completely. The negative vote signifies an upsurge in popular opposition to the regimes at national level over their inability to solve problems of unemployment and high cost of living. According to the French Communist Party National Secretary Marie-George Buffet" the French Non is a European no, generous and in solidarity". It is in effect a vote against the elite in power throughout Europe whose policies have helped the big monopolies to undermine the social benefits workers and farmers have earned through years of struggle. As evidenced from jubilant street celebrations by the people in France after the victory of the "Non" vote the European people are rising against the policies of neo-liberalism that would ultimately lead to a corporate controlled and militarised Europe. According to Charles Kupchan, Professor of International Relations at Georgetown University the negative vote "is a revolt against the establishment". In the opinion of French Commentator Nicolas Baverez it was "an insurrection, a democratic intifada". British Prime Minister Tony Blair who will assume the leadership of the EU next has tried to down play the magnitude of the crisis facing the EU. In his opinion a new opportunity has arisen for the EU to reconsider where it is heading for. Obviously British Prime Minister Blair, French President Jaques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder have a lot to re-think. |
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