Vive la France! 55% say "NON" to Imperialist EU-Constitution! French save peoples of Europe!

French Reject Europe’s First Constitution

By JOHN LEICESTER, Associated Press Writer / 25 minutes ago/

PARIS - French voters rejected the

European Union’s first
constitution Sunday, President Jacques Chirac said — a stinging
repudiation of his leadership and the ambitious, decades-long effort to
further unite the continent.

Chirac, who urged voters to approve the charter, announced the result in
a brief, televised address. He said the process of ratifying the treaty
would continue in other EU countries.

"France has expressed itself democratically," Chirac said. "It is your
sovereign decision, and I take note."

Earlier, the Interior Ministry said that with about 83 percent of the
votes counted, the referendum was rejected by 57.26 percent of voters.
It was supported by 42.74 percent.

All 25 EU members must ratify the text for it to take effect as planned
by Nov. 1, 2006 — and nine already have done so. The Dutch vote
Wednesday, with polls showing opposition to the constitution there
running at about 60 percent.

France’s rejection could set the continent’s plans back by years. The
nation was a primary architect of European unity.

"There is no more constitution," leading opponent Philippe de Villiers
said. "It is necessary to reconstruct Europe on other foundations that
don’t currently exist."

De Villiers called on Chirac to resign — something the French leader
had said he would not do — and called for parliament to be dissolved.

"Tonight we face a major political crisis," he said.

Extreme-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, who campaigned vigorously for
the constitution’s defeat, also called for Chirac’s resignation.

Chirac "wanted to gamble ... and he has lost," Le Pen said.

The rejection could kill any hopes Chirac may have had for a third term.
His approval ratings have plunged to 39 percent in recent weeks, and
there was widespread speculation a "no" vote would prompt him to fire
unpopular Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.

European leaders negotiated the treaty in October in Rome. EU officials
said before the vote that even if France rejected the treaty, efforts to
ratify it in other countries would proceed.

On Friday, the constitution’s main architect, former French President
Valery Giscard d’Estaing, said countries that reject the treaty will be
asked to vote again.