The trouble with a referendum, as Kenneth Clarke noted, is that people do not always answer the question you ask them. You want to know if they favour a bimetallistic approach to the currency, and they say ‘Throw the rascals out.’ Something of the sort may be happening to Jacques Chirac. He had the French all geared up to vote for Europe’s new constitution, the polls are now running against him, but it may be that the voters have tired of a President who keeps flying off to Japan to watch the sumo wrestling. Even so, a Non vote next month would halt the constitution in its tracks, and would not say much for Europe’s confidence in its structures, current and proposed. Last month another structure came apart. This was the Stability and Growth Pact, which was supposed to set limits to European governments’ capacity to borrow. It could be used to bully minor players like Portugal, but when it did not suit France and Germany, they overrode it.
Christopher Fildes
Ce que je redis au peuple fran
Ce que je redis au peuple français — votez Non, votez souvent, encore
issue 02 April 2005
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in