EFL: The Dutch public appears on course to firmly reject the European constitution in a referendum on 1 June, according to latest opinion polls. A poll for RTL television indicated 54% would vote No, with 27% voting Yes. The Dutch vote is purely consultative, but politicians have said they will take the result into consideration when it comes to a parliamentary vote. The referendum comes only three days after one in France, where the No campaign has a slight lead. A poll by Centerdata, also published on Thursday, showed 50.9% against the constitution and 28.6% for it.
Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende played down the latest polls, saying "I am putting my money on the 'yes' vote, I am optimistic," in an interview with De Volkskrant newspaper. Dutch Socialist MP Harry van Bommel, a leader of the No campaign, told the BBC News website that the No leads in France and the Netherlands were helping encourage each other. He said the influence and sovereignty of smaller EU member states such as the Netherlands would be severely threatened by the constitution, which is designed for the enlarged EU of 25 states.
The Netherlands is one of the EU's founding members, and support for the bloc has traditionally been strong among the Dutch. However, tensions over immigration and the high financial cost of EU membership have led to increasing Dutch euroscepticism ahead of the poll. Other factors pushing voters into the No camp appear to be the speed of European integration and opposition to Mr Balkenende's centre-right government. |