Farmers’ EU knockout punch
Just as in the country’s previous vote on the Maastricht treaty, French farmers voted overwhelmingly against, with 70% for No.
It could be their biggest triumph ever, with French political leaders finally getting the message that the people want protectionism rather than globalisation, and perhaps also an end to Brussels red tape.
Although French farmers get a massive eight billion euro per year in farm aid, they have reacted more angrily than farmers in any other member state to the lowering of trade barriers which brought stiffer competition for their home produced foods.
Now, by helping to throw European politics into disarray with their votes, they are getting places.
Nicolas Sarkozy, now a French presidential hopeful after the No poll shock for President Chirac, has promised to “give new life to community preference”, describing it as one of the European project’s reasons for being.
This vision of a European fortress, trading only in products made and grown within the 25 member states is the promised land for farmers, although it had become largely obsolete in the modern world of globalisation.
Nothing less will bring French farmers back on onside.
Students, professionals and wealthier people were more keen to vote Yes to the EU Constitution, but they were no match politically for the workers (79% against), farmers (70% against) and unemployed (71% against).
Significantly, small towns and rural areas, dependent on agriculture, rejected the constitution, although Paris and its suburbs voted in favour.
Heralded as a wake up call for EU leaders about voters' real views, the French No has got the European Commission worried, with Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot, warning of "an epidemic of populism".
Similar fears may be behind the euro’s slump to a seven-month low on Monday, with economists warning that the French vote had encouraged those promoting “protectionist” EU policies.
British prime minister Tony Blair said the French No raised profound questions about the future of the European economy and how we deal with the modern questions of globalisation and technological change.
Czech president Vaclav Klaus, a well-known eurosceptic, said the French No revealed the huge gap between European politics and opinions of the citizens.
Whatever the political interpretation, Irish (and Danish) farmers won’t get the chance to reject the EU constitution.
Both countries have said they will ratify the constitution without referenda, in spite of the French result.
Nine member states have ratified the Constitutional Treaty, but only Germany held a referendum on it. The Germans said Yes, now it’s the turn of the Dutch.
If six countries reject the treaty, it will be formally killed off, and No voters can look forward to a new deal.
