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Europe
French support for EU vote tanking
2005-04-24
The European Commission says it is worried by opinion polls that suggest French voters will reject the EU's constitution in a referendum on 29 May. The latest poll suggests that more than 60% of French adults would vote against the text - the highest level of opposition in an opinion poll yet.
And we've weeks to go. Bwha-ha-ha-ha.
"The European Commission is worried by the turn of the statistics," said spokeswoman Francoise Le Bail. Rejection by France would scupper the constitution.
Though the catering industry would soar.
The results of the poll for the Metro newspaper, conducted by MarketTools on 20 April, suggest an increase in the No vote, up from 58% in a poll for L'Express released on Thursday. No margin of error was given. "Of course, there are a number of weeks to go before the referendum. But we very much hope that the figures will change," Ms Le Bail said.

A poll released on Wednesday had suggested the No vote was wavering, placing it at 52%. However, the campaign against the constitution has steadily won votes amid growing discontent with high and rising unemployment in France.

Trade union are threatening strike action on 16 May in the run-up to the referendum over government plans to scrap a public holiday. A survey by pollsters CSA for Le Parisien suggested 66% of people opposed cancelling the Pentecost holiday. The government says it needs French people to work on 16 May in order to generate more tax revenues.
Excellent: economy's tanking, unemployment is a disaster, tax revenues are falling, let's fix this the good-old fashioned Euro way -- let's strike!
Posted by:Steve White

#10  The Govt needs workers to work so that the Govt can raise revenues, which BTW also raises Govt.-specific/payable liabilities. National/Public Welfare is all but officially shot to pieces, Govt-paid or subsidized Vacations and Leave Days are also as PAYLESS PAYDAYS AND PAYLESS WORKDAYS AND GASP, FRENCHIES ANDS FRENCH INDUSTRIES ACTUALLY HAVING TO WORK AND BECOME COST-EFFECTIVE/EFFICIENT LIKE AMERICANS, LOOM LARGER AS FRENCH SOCIALISM MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN EVEN DEEPER DEFICIT SPENDING AND KEEPING THE MASSES MIRED IN PROPANGANDA AND PC, WHILE THE POLICRATS MUST DECIDE BETWEEN MILITARIZED EXPANSION - READ. CONQUEST - TO SAVE FRENCH- AND EURO- SOCIALISM, OR TO IMPLODE LIKE THE USSR!? And now you know, AGAIN, why the Commie SPETZNATZ, aka Radical Islam, attacked America on 9-11 - ALL THE SOCIALIST-BELOVED REGULATION AND HYPER-REGULATION, BIG BOVT AND BIGGER GOVT.,...ETC. IN THE UNIVERSE CAN'T SAVE LEFTISM-SOCIALISM FROM ITSELF!? The Lefties won't care because they are both for and against everyone and anyone, and no one.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2005-04-24 11:38:51 PM  

#9  Doubt that even Chirac could fake this one. A large portion of the political class is against it, including the Socialists, who could gain hugely if Jacques the Thief is seen to steal elections as well as cash from the till. I predict it will be close but still No, and that France will become more in favor of a looser, more federal Europe with France and Germany forming a separate bloc.

This is the end of the grand vision of Europe as both large and determined to stand up to the US. Impossible to have it both ways.
Posted by: thibaud (aka lex)   2005-04-24 8:57:49 PM  

#8  Oops!!!! AP - we both owe apologies to LotR, he made the call as well, just more subtly. Not enough caffeine, LotR, sorry! Good call guys but, of course, I hope you're wrong, lol!
Posted by: .com   2005-04-24 5:27:33 PM  

#7  You guys stole my thunder. That is the problem with living in a later time zone, heh. Sock is probably right. Chiraq and Co will probably rig the elections results to YES for the EU. There is too much riding on this election for Chiraq.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2005-04-24 5:05:37 PM  

#6  I think SPoD and LotR are reading from the same page. One minor correction: I think the King County election officials learned from the French.
Posted by: Steve White   2005-04-24 4:08:20 PM  

#5  SPoD - Heh. Sometimes I forget just how low Chirac will go. You're prolly right, bro.
Posted by: .com   2005-04-24 3:35:44 PM  

#4  I am going to make a jello like prediction that the Yes side will magicly win the Euro Constutition vote. With the criminal stuff Chirac and his party have pulled off in the past, this is a walk in the park.
Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom   2005-04-24 3:33:19 PM  

#3  "The government says it needs French people to work on 16 May in order to generate more tax revenues."

How about letting people work whenever they want? Or is that mental leap beyond them?
Posted by: Mark E.   2005-04-24 2:10:01 PM  

#2  I'm truly........shocked.

/sarcasm off.
Posted by: Chase Unineger3873 aka Jarhead   2005-04-24 12:07:01 PM  

#1  I would be unsurprised if Washington State King County election officials were not riding Air France over there to "advise" on how to handle the absentee ballots. The EUSSR folks may pull this out of a dark hidden counting room yet.
Posted by: Laurence of the Rats   2005-04-24 11:53:47 AM  

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