Chirac urges yes vote for EU Constitution
14/04/2005 - 20:56:01President Jacques Chirac today urged the French to back the EU Constitution, saying that Europe needs the charter in order to ensure its standing as a world power.
A French rejection would halt Europe’s development as a unified power, Chirac said, appearing on prime-time television to push for a “Yes” vote in France’s May 29 referendum.
“There would be a first consequence: that European construction stops,” Chirac said.
All 25 EU nations must approve the constitution for it to take effect.
With polls showing rising opposition to the EU-wide constitution, Chirac urged his compatriots to help build a “Europe that has the power to count in this world of tomorrow” by voting for the charter – Europe’s first.
Chirac chose a televised two-hour debate with 83 carefully selected young French people to make his first campaign pitch for a “Yes” in the May 29 referendum.
With six weeks to go, supporters of the EU charter have been rocked by a string of opinion polls putting the “No” camp ahead by a nose.
So far, four EU nations have ratified the constitution.
Chirac added that he would not resign if French voters reject the constitution, saying his tenure and the referendum were not related.
He also said Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin’s leadership was not at stake either.
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