Reuters Photo
French President Jacques Chirac leaves
the polling station after casting his ballot
in the referendum...
With approximately 83% of the votes in, French voters rejected the EU Constitution with a majority estimated at between 55 and 60 percent. Earlier in the day, Fox News also said that it is likely The Netherlands will follow suit on Wednesday.
The constitution will take effect on November 1, 2006 if approved by all 25 EU states. So far nine have ratified.
President Chirac has been seriously embarrassed but refuses any talk of resignation. It has been suggested that he may instead, fire the unpopular Prime Minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin.
Fox adds; A No Might Not Be A No
The treaty says EU leaders will discuss what to do if, by October 2006, four-fifths of member states have ratified the treaty, but one or more others have "encountered difficulties" getting it accepted. It is not impossible that countries would be asked to vote again.
Meanwhile, The Herald suggests that "France's diminishing influence in an ever-expanding Europe" and the growing resentment of the Brussels Elite has excacerbated the distaste of less affluent French workers; the so-called Polish Plumber problem.
The newspaper adds: "Mr Chirac was said to be letting it be known that a French rejection was Tony Blair's fault for making the constitution appear too Anglo-Saxon. Recriminations are likely to last beyond July 1 when the UK takes over the six-month presidency."
Time to put the boot in, Tony.