久久亚洲国产成人影院-久久亚洲国产的中文-久久亚洲国产高清-久久亚洲国产精品-亚洲图片偷拍自拍-亚洲图色视频

  Home>News Center>World
         
 

France's Chirac tries to save EU Constitution
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-15 09:06

French President Jacques Chirac began his campaign to save the European Union constitution on Thursday by warning voters that France could "cease to exist politically" in the EU if they reject it in a referendum.

Chirac mixed warnings of dire consequences and gentle lecturing on the content of the constitution in a live televised debate with 83 young people, in which he began a mission to turn back a rising tide of opposition before the vote on May 29.

He said the treaty could not be renegotiated if voters reject it but that he would not resign over the treaty on which he has staked his personal prestige.

French President Jacques Chirac, right, gestures during a live television appearance at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Thursday April 14, 2005. Chirac has chosen a televised two-hour debate with 80 young French peolple to make his first campaign pitch for a 'Yes' in the May 29 referendum. (AP Photo/Patrick Kovarik, Pool)
French President Jacques Chirac, right, gestures during a live television appearance at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Thursday April 14, 2005. Chirac has chosen a televised two-hour debate with 80 young French peolple to make his first campaign pitch for a 'Yes' in the May 29 referendum. [AP]
"If by chance France did not vote in favor, France would at least for a certain time cease to exist politically at the heart of this Europe," the president said in his concluding comments after a more than two-hour debate at his Elysee palace.

Asked if he might resign if the referendum failed, he said: "No. That is not the question French people are being asked."

Chirac entered the fray with opinion polls showing the anti-treaty campaign is clearly ahead just six weeks before the referendum. The surveys point to deep discontent with high unemployment and with France's declining influence in Europe.

The charter is intended to make decision-making easier following the admission of 10 new members last May. Rejection could cause a crisis at the heart of the Union because the treaty requires the approval of all 25 EU member states.

Chirac, who sat in a chair at a desk as he fielded questions under sparkling chandeliers, urged voters not to mix their dissatisfaction with domestic political and economic matters with the issues at stake in the vote on the constitution.

DON'T BE ASHAMED

"We have no reason to be ashamed of Europe, the first economic power in the world," Chirac said. "You need rules to be organized. These rules are provided in the constitution."

He dismissed the argument of the "No" camp that the constitution can be renegotiated to make it better. Renegotiating a treaty that was agreed by EU leaders last year after years of discussion was not realistic, he said.

"In reality you would have 24 countries that voted yes and then the black sheep that blocked everything," he said. "France would be weakened considerably."

He said the charter adopted by EU leaders last year would strengthen France and Europe by giving the Union rules that would govern it better and help it size up in a world with other big powers such as the United States and China.

Chirac, 72, delayed his first foray into the campaign in the hope he could give the treaty's supporters a late boost to claw back the lead from the "No" camp. He feared the campaign would lose momentum if he entered too soon.

Chirac's center-right supporters say his strong campaigning skills hold the key to victory, but critics say the president is so unpopular in some quarters that his decision to back the constitution openly could backfire.

Supporters say a "No" vote could halt EU integration and ensure decisions are slow and hard to reach because the current voting system is unsuitable for a larger Union.

Some financial analysts also say a political crisis caused by the treaty's rejection could undermine the euro currency and unnerve financial markets in countries aspiring to join the EU.

But the constitution's critics say the European Union is better off without it and the euro would not be undermined.



 
  Today's Top News     Top World News
 

Schroeder's advice to Japan: Be self-critical of history

 

   
 

Cancer chemical in French fries and coffee?

 

   
 

Koizumi calls for dialogue on oil dispute

 

   
 

Standards released for State firm buyouts

 

   
 

Fake milk powder severely sickens infant

 

   
 

EU to apply 'safety clauses' on China textiles

 

   
  Baghdad car bomb blasts kill at least 15
   
  India sees no breakthrough in talks with Musharraf
   
  Schroeder's advice to Japan: Be self-critical of history
   
  Japan: Dialogue needed to resolve China dispute
   
  Roh: North Korea collapse unlikely, undesirable
   
  Rivalries overwhelm debate on U.N council
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Chirac calls on EU to lift arms embargo
   
Bush harbors no bitterness toward Chirac
   
Hu shares views with Chirac over phone
  News Talk  
  Are the Republicans exploiting the memory of 9/11?  
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 国产高清国产专区国产精品 | 日本精品一区二区三区在线视频一 | 国产成人在线观看免费网站 | 8888奇米四色在线 | 久久r这里只有精品 | 精品一区二区三区免费毛片爱 | 欧美日本综合一区二区三区 | 操欧美美女 | 一级做a爰片毛片 | 草草影院地址 | 亚洲欧美精品 | 国产黄色一级毛片 | 国产三级在线免费观看 | 久久毛片网 | 色综合久久加勒比高清88 | 欧美人交性视频在线香蕉 | 亚欧色视频在线观看免费 | 色欧美hdvideosxs4k | 国产一级片毛片 | 久久爱com | 手机看片1024国产基地 | 狼人 成人 综合 亚洲 | 久久久久欧美精品观看 | 韩国美女爽快一级毛片黄 | 欧美野外性k8播放性迷宫 | 亚洲精品视频在线看 | 国产激情一区二区三区在线观看 | 亚洲第一狼人区 | 国产最新精品 | 久草中文在线观看 | 日本aaaa级毛片在线看 | 欧美在线观看一区 | 97青青草原国产免费观看 | 亚洲天堂在线观看视频 | 国产一级一片免费播放 | 高清一区在线 | 美女免费黄网站 | 欧美一二三区在线 | 久久久久久青草大香综合精品 | 欧美视频久久久 | 亚洲天天 |