French vote should lead to reflection

FRANCESC Antich, the secretary general of the Balearic socialist party (PSIB-PSOE) said yesterday that he hoped the “no” victory in the French referendum on the European Constitution “would not affect other countries.” He added that his party would have preferred “a strong ‘yes'” triumph.
Antich, who is also a Deputy in Congress, described the result of Sunday's referendum as “a blow” but the process of approval of the European Constitution “will go ahead” unless the opposition wins in five European Union countries. The Majorcan Socialist Party (PSM) said that the French “no” will “force the European Union to start a process of reflection and self-criticism,” and called for “a real constitution from a much more transparent and communicative process.” Biel Vicens, the party's secretary general, said that the French rejection shows that the text “was promoted, agreed and drawn up behind the backs of a large part of European society.” He added that a new text is called for which should “reinforce and guarantee social policies and achievements made in social welfare.” It should also outline “a European foreign policy with a single voice and defend dialogue and commitment to peace.” He pointed out that the French “no” vote had been promoted “by a large part of the left-wing parties in France,” and this should make Spain's PSOE reflect on its support for the Constitution. Joan Lladó, the chairman of the ERC (Catalan Republican Left) in the Balearics, said that “the 67 per cent of the negative vote in northern Catalonia (France) shows that the citizens of nations without statehood are excluded from this proposal.” The rejection, he said, was “a good occasion for Europe to consider a new construction.”