MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

French NO sends shockwaves to EU project

French voters overwhelmingly rejected this Sunday the European Union's proposed constitution in a key referendum that sent shockwaves to the whole continent, possibly dealing a fatal blow to the whole process.

When the projection results showed 55% for No and 45% for Yes with a turnout of 70%, President Jacques Chirac in a national address accepted the voters "sovereign decision" but warned "let's be honest", it has created "a difficult context for the defence of our interests in Europe".

A resounding No from the one of EU founding members casts a big question mark about the whole treaty. President Chirac who campaigned strongly for the Yes vote said he understood voters' frustrations and hinted of a possible reshuffle of his centre-right government in the coming days. This is the first time in the history of the Fifth Republic that a French president looses a referendum on European unity.

Late Sunday No supporters gathered in the Place de la Bastille in Paris to celebrate victory. Those who rejected the constitution included left wing groups, dissident Socialists, Communists and far right parties.

Philippe de Villiers one of the leading right wing opponents said that "Europe has to be rebuilt. The constitution is no more", and demanded the resignation of President Chirac or the dissolution of the National Assembly.

Extreme right leader Jean Marie Le Pen said that the first consequence of the No victory "must be the ousting of President Chirac".

Former Socialist minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn and a strong Yes supporter described the situation as "very bad news for Europe" adding that what really happened was a rejection of the government's policies, "we're facing an identity crisis because France has no idea where she's heading under Chirac".

Socialist Jack Lang and spokesperson for his official party majority supporting the Yes campaign also blamed President Chirac and Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin administration for the defeat.

"There's a clear element in this result and it's the fury, the rage of French voters with the political establishment already experienced in the 2004 elections and confirmed again today, unfortunately with Europe as the victim", said Deputy Lang.

Independent observers said that the French vote was more a domestic protest against globalization, unemployment, immigration and loss of jobs to outsourcing.

Political analyst Pierre Le Coq suggested that contrary to the American constitution drafted over two centuries ago by "a philosopher" in only 4,000 words, the EU constitution has 40,000 words and is the work of bureaucrats. "The rejection of the treaty is above all the rejection of the government".

The Spanish government which has already approved the EU constitution said the No victory is "a stumble but not a catastrophe" which has been influenced by elements of domestic policy, "doubts and pessimism about the state of the French nation", which was not the case with the Spanish electorate.

German Chancellor Gerard Schroeder underlined that the No victory was not an end to the "constitutional process" or the end of the "Franco German association in Europe for the good of Europe". "We support the constitution because we want a democratic, strong and social Europe", said Mr. Schroeder's office in an official release.

In the United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the result raised "profound questions" about the direction of Europe.

So far nine of the 25 EU members have formally endorsed the constitution among which Spain, Germany, Austria, and eight national referendums are still to come including in Holland next Wednesday June 1. However in the Netherlands the NO vote is also leading according to the opinion polls. Member states can ratify the document through a referendum or by parliamentary vote.

The European Parliament Constitutional Committee is scheduled to celebrate an extraordinary meeting next Thursday following the vote in Holland.

"We regret and are disappointed with what happened because it's an EU founding member that has said No and this is means serious consequences for Europe", said Euro-Deputy Jo Leinen president of the Committee. "France must clarify its position in Europe", because a period of uncertainty has been opened which "few members of parliament dare openly call a crisis".