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Europe
Former French minister 'frightened' by EU Constitution
2004-08-25
A French former minister has said that he is "truly frightened" by the new European Constitution.
"Oh, hold me, Anne-Marie!"
In an interview with Le Figaro, Jean-Pierre Chevenement, who is a socialist and former interior and defence minister of France, condemned the text for being too economically liberal and in the area of common foreign and security policy of being a tool of "vassalisation to the US".
They forgot to add that Chevenement is also a dipshit...
Mr Chevenement said the treaty "would prevent all autonomous defence policy". All common defence will have to be "compatible with the security policy contained within the framework of NATO", said the former minister. "Moreover, the principle of reinforced co-operation between countries is subject to the agreement of the council and the European Parliament. The hope for a flexible Europe has therefore been nipped in the bud", said Mr Chevenement.
Wasn't it the Polish parliament that had a senate where any member had a veto? That wasn't recently, but a few hundred years ago. In fact, it was shortly before Poland ceased to have major influence in European affairs. I think their most notable contribution after the veto idea was Augustus II, who had as many illegitimate children as there are days in the year, or Augustus III, who took his daughter as his mistress...
He repeated his hope that the Constitution will be turned down by French citizens in next year's referendum by saying that he was certain that among the 25 countries concerned, some will reject the text. "I hope France is one of them", said Mr Chevenement. The former minister also lashed out at France's dwindling influence in the newly enlarged European Union. "France is marginalized. A Europe of 25 automatically means a majority for governments most subservient to the United States".
"... instead of being subservient to La Belle France..."
"France has only one commissioner now out of 25. It is undeniable that in this commission, the liberals and the atlanticists make up the lion's share".
Life's tough, ain't it?
Posted by:tipper

#3  They forgot to add that Chevènement is also a dipshit...

They covered that when they pointed out he was a socialist.
Posted by: Darth VAda   2004-08-25 11:00:22 PM  

#2  Totally OT:

"Cheval" is horse, so what would "Chevnement" translate as? Horse-barn?
Posted by: mojo   2004-08-25 12:42:25 PM  

#1  You're right, Fred. The veto wiped out Poland as a power, with no way to achieve consensus. From there on up, it was downhill all the way.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2004-08-25 11:51:23 AM  

00:00