German Bundesrat ratified the Constitutional Treaty
The Chamber representing the German Länder voted by a huge majority for the Constitutional Treaty and made Germany the 9th member state ratifying the Constitution.
A majority of two thirds of the 69 members has been achieved only three deputies abstained from the vote and three members of the former communist party refused to ratify the treaty. On May 12th, the Bundestag (Parliament) has already approved the ratification by a considerable high margin of 98%.
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European mayors calling for a yes
21 mayors of European capitals like Paris, Athens, Madrid and Berlin signed a paper calling for a yes vote to the European Constitution. While the paper has been published in the respective national newspapers, Le Figaro affirmed that, notwithstanding possible critiques, the Constitution would confirm fundamental democratic values and conquests.
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53% of directors of small firms are leaning towards a yes
Although having been opposed 2 month ago, 53% of the directing managers of French firms (= less than 20 employees) have the intention to vote yes on Sunday 29th, according to the study of Ifop/Fiducial published on Thursday 26. The yes is favoured by service firms (75%), firms working with 3 - 19 employees (62%) and small traders (55%).
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500 European jurists a petitioning for the yes
500 European jurists put online a petition promoting 10 reasons for a yes vote. The text puts an emphasis on the fact that the Constitution gives much more importance to the European Union which becomes crucial for its member states loosing influence in a globalizing world. With its new juridical personality, the European Union would become an actor of great impact not only in commercial affairs, but also in terms of foreign policy and notably in defence issues and concerning cooperation of humanitarian support.
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19 members of the European Parliament formed a human chain in Paris
On Thursday 26th of May, 19 members of the European Parliament coming from different national and political backgrounds gathered together at the place de l’Hôtel de Ville to form a human chain, appealing to the French population to vote for the European Constitution. The notice boards the deputies were carrying only transmitted one message: “yes”, “oui”, “ja”. The British depute Andrew Duff affirmed his conviction for a Europe that becomes stronger, more efficient, larger and more democratic. “It is for France and for Europe”.
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Jacques Chirac is investing him self for a yes
Three days ahead of the referendum, the French President Jacques Chirac deeply urged the French population to vote for the European Constitution and not mixing up the questions. He stressed that “a yes will give France a chance to be listened to when talking about its visions of Europe, the French social model will be protected while ways to respond to the risks of delocalization are prepared”. Acknowledging that economic and social questions are at the heart of the European voters, the President insisted on the content of the economic and social chapters of the Constitution, affirming that social progress and full employment are guaranteed by the constitutional treaty. “It is a considerable advance from which all countries will benefit.”
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The journal Le Monde for the yes
In an editorial titled “Illusions of the yes”, published on Mai 27th, the editor in chief, Jean-Marie COLOMBANI posed the thesis that a refusal of this Constitutional Treaty that substantially promotes France’s relative position in Europe had to be considered as a vote of illusions and disillusions.
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Last meeting of Valéry Giscard d’Estaing
The association Mouvement Européen-France organized a last meeting before the referendum between Valéry Giscard d’Estaing and the civil society on Wednesday 25th.
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United Kingdom fixed its date for ratification
The secretary of the Foreign Office introduced on Thursday May 24th the ratification bill organizing the referendum on the Constitutional Treaty. The parliamentary debate should not take place before mid-June, after the French and Dutch referendums. The referendum should be held in the first semester of 2006, after the United Kingdom took over for six months its European Presidency on July 1st 2005.
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