Hollande rules out French referendum on EU
by Ingrid Melander
2016-06-30 12:44:17.0
PARIS — President Francois Hollande on Thursday ruled out organising a referendum on the EU in France, saying next year’s presidential election will be the opportunity for voters to decide on which European policy they want.
There have been growing calls in France for a referendum on the EU since Britons voted to exit the EU organisation a week ago.
Mainstream politicians, including Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron and the 2017 presidential election front-runner Alain Juppé, a centre-right former prime minister, have called for a plebiscite on a new EU project. Only the far-right National Front is calling for a vote on EU membership.
"Why organise such a tumult and confrontation if it’s not to leave the EU? Lies, simplifications, excesses and even the violence we saw in the referendum campaign in Britain were not enough for those sorcerer’s apprentices?" Hollande told Les Echos daily, when asked whether there should be a referendum in France.
Many in France are increasingly disillusioned with Europe, which they see as too pro-market and not protective enough, making the outcome of such a referendum hard to predict. In 2005, a proposed new EU constitution was blocked by referendums in France and the Netherlands.
Some 55% of French voters do not want a referendum on EU membership while 45% think it would be a good idea, a survey by Elabe pollsters showed on Wednesday.
The French vote on Europe will be the presidential election, Hollande told Les Echos. "The British experience will then be an example – or rather a counter-example," he said.
Reuters
French President François Hollande, left, talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron at Tuesday's EU Summit in Brussels, Belgium. Picture: REUTERS/PHIL NOBLE
PARIS — President Francois Hollande on Thursday ruled out organising a referendum on the EU in France, saying next year’s presidential election will be the opportunity for voters to decide on which European policy they want.
There have been growing calls in France for a referendum on the EU since Britons voted to exit the EU organisation a week ago.
Mainstream politicians, including Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron and the 2017 presidential election front-runner Alain Juppé, a centre-right former prime minister, have called for a plebiscite on a new EU project. Only the far-right National Front is calling for a vote on EU membership.
"Why organise such a tumult and confrontation if it’s not to leave the EU? Lies, simplifications, excesses and even the violence we saw in the referendum campaign in Britain were not enough for those sorcerer’s apprentices?" Hollande told Les Echos daily, when asked whether there should be a referendum in France.
Many in France are increasingly disillusioned with Europe, which they see as too pro-market and not protective enough, making the outcome of such a referendum hard to predict. In 2005, a proposed new EU constitution was blocked by referendums in France and the Netherlands.
Some 55% of French voters do not want a referendum on EU membership while 45% think it would be a good idea, a survey by Elabe pollsters showed on Wednesday.
The French vote on Europe will be the presidential election, Hollande told Les Echos. "The British experience will then be an example – or rather a counter-example," he said.
Reuters
