2005 French European Constitution referendum

2005 French European Constitution referendum
Aymolinier · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Title	2005 French European Constitution referendum
Date	May 29, 2005
Turnout	69.37%

2005 French European Constitution referendum was a national referendum held in France on May 29, 2005, in which voters were asked to approve or reject the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, also known as the European Constitution. The referendum was called by President of France Jacques Chirac, who supported the treaty, and was opposed by several prominent French Socialist Party members, including Laurent Fabius and Henri Emmanuelli. The European Union and its institutions, such as the European Commission and the European Parliament, were also involved in the debate, with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and European Parliament President Josep Borrell advocating for the treaty's adoption.

Background

The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe was signed on October 29, 2004, by the European Council, which included German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The treaty aimed to create a European Constitution that would replace the existing Treaty of Rome and Treaty of Maastricht, and provide a framework for the European Union's institutions and policies. The French Constitution required that any significant changes to the country's European Union membership be approved by a referendum, as specified in Article 11 of the French Constitution. The Constitutional Council of France and the French National Assembly also played a role in the referendum process, with National Assembly President Jean-Louis Debré and Constitutional Council President Pierre Mazeaud overseeing the preparations.

The Referendum

The referendum was held on May 29, 2005, and asked voters to answer "yes" or "no" to the question: "Approuvez-vous le projet de loi qui autorise la ratification du traité établissant une Constitution pour l'Europe?" ("Do you approve the bill authorizing the ratification of the treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe?"). The French Ministry of the Interior and the French Ministry of Justice were responsible for organizing the referendum, with Minister of the Interior Dominique de Villepin and Minister of Justice Pascal Clément overseeing the process. The European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights also had a role in ensuring the referendum's legitimacy, with European Court of Justice President Vassilios Skouris and European Court of Human Rights President Luzius Wildhaber monitoring the proceedings.

Campaign

The campaign for the referendum was marked by intense debate and division within France and the European Union. The "yes" campaign was supported by President Jacques Chirac, Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, and several other prominent French politicians, including Nicolas Sarkozy and François Bayrou. The "no" campaign was led by Laurent Fabius and Henri Emmanuelli, as well as other French Socialist Party members, and was also supported by some French trade unions, such as the Confédération Générale du Travail and the Force Ouvrière. The European Trade Union Confederation and the European Federation of Public Service Unions also participated in the debate, with European Trade Union Confederation General Secretary John Monks and European Federation of Public Service Unions General Secretary Carola Fischbach-Pyttel advocating for the treaty's adoption.

Results

The results of the referendum showed that 54.67% of voters rejected the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, while 45.33% voted in favor. The turnout was 69.37%, with over 30 million voters participating. The "no" vote was strongest in the northern regions of France, such as Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy, while the "yes" vote was strongest in the southern regions of France, such as Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Corsica. The French National Assembly and the French Senate also held debates on the referendum results, with National Assembly President Jean-Louis Debré and Senate President Christian Poncelet overseeing the discussions.

Aftermath

The rejection of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe by French voters had significant consequences for the European Union and its institutions. The European Commission and the European Council were forced to reconsider the treaty's provisions and negotiate a new agreement, which eventually became the Treaty of Lisbon. The Treaty of Lisbon was signed on December 13, 2007, and entered into force on December 1, 2009, with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy playing key roles in the negotiations. The French European Constitution referendum also had an impact on French politics, with President Jacques Chirac's popularity declining significantly after the referendum, and Nicolas Sarkozy eventually succeeding him as President of France in 2007. The European Parliament and the European Court of Justice also continued to play important roles in shaping the European Union's policies and institutions, with European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering and European Court of Justice President Vassilios Skouris overseeing the proceedings. Category:European Union Category:France Category:Referendums