http://www.qando.net/ - When is a ’non’ a ’oui’?

President Chirac of France is preparing to throw Europe into confusion and put Britain on the spot by backing moves to keep the European constitution alive if it is rejected in Sunday’s referendum.

French diplomats say that M Chirac is expected to urge other countries to proceed with ratification because France does not want to be seen to be blocking the European project.

Translation: Chirac is planning an "end around" to the probable popular vote rejection of the EU Constitution by the French. As you know, for the Constitution to be accepted, all EU member nations must vote it in. Some are making the vote contingent on the vote of the legislature. Other countries are doing so by popular referrendum. Chirac, of France, in a fit of either gross misjudgment or arrogance, eschewed the legislative method and insisted on a popular referrendum.

Bad, bad political choice.

But the latest poll showed the rejectionists’ support growing to 55 per cent — the 13th poll in succession to put the ‘no’ camp ahead.

But note Chirc's bit of urging to the EU. "You guys go ahead and pass it, we'll be along later". He has some brass anyway.

So how will this get done?

But one option being discussed in senior diplomatic circles is for candidates in the French presidential election in 2007 to promise to ratify the treaty in parliament rather than by referendum.

Which leaves Britian and others holding the bag. You see, if it doesn't pass in France, France will insist on changes to the Constitution in order to allow passage which will obviously make it a different document than that agreed to by EU nations voting now.

British ministers argue that it will be impossible to hold a referendum next year because the final shape of the treaty on which the British would be voting will be unknown.

President Chirac was still insisting last night that renegotiation was out of the question if the French vote "no". British ministers believe that the only way that the French could get eventual approval would be to amend the constitution in a way that would make it unacceptable in Britain.

“We do not know if there is going to be a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ but a ‘no’ would create massive uncertainty about what we are supposed to be voting on,” a ministerial source said.

What a mess. And all of Chirac's making. Of course it could be that he needs to change his appeal:

“The decision before us goes far beyond traditional political divisions,” he said. The choice was “about your future and that of your children, of the future of France and the future of Europe. On Sunday, everyone will have a share of the destiny of France in its hands.”

He argued that the constitution would strengthen France’s influence in Europe and reinforce the French social model. Rejecting it would create “divisions and doubts” in Europe when “we need a political Europe capable of bringing about a genuine European power”.

Who knows, maybe even the French are figuring out that "genuine European power" is not possible with the reinforcement of the "French social model".

UPDATE: Germany has ratified the EU Constitution:

Germany became the ninth country to approve the European Union's new constitution Friday, but Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder didn't stick around to celebrate: He hopped on a jet to rally voters in France.

Schroeder in France ... yeah, that ought to make a big difference.

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A no vote is pro West, and a yes vote is pro Europe. If the no vote wins, isolated nations like France will not have the same weight as the EU to support its stand on social, economic, and political developments against such power as US and China.

Chirac is therefore right. He too has to relinguish some power in order to make a collective work.

Vote yes, and sort out modifications later.

Written By: Peter
URL: http://au.geocities.com/the_uprising1/

That Chirac, he’s a real political mastermind isn’t he? Him and his little friend Schroeder. Both are on the way out (and looking might bad) while Bush, Howard and Blair get re-elected.

Sometimes justice is done

Written By: shark
URL: http://

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