Post by Bozur on Feb 26, 2005 18:41:01 GMT -5
World - AFP
Spain says resounding yes to European constitution
Sun Feb 20, 6:37 PM ET World - AFP
MADRID (AFP) - Spaniards gave a resounding seal of approval to the new European constitution in a referendum, with nearly four in five of those casting ballots backing the text, final official results showed.
Spain was the first of 10 EU states called upon to give the proposed constitution its popular backing, with the remaining 15 member states of the bloc, including the largest nation, Germany, preferring parliamentary ratification.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said his compatriots had shown their fellow EU citizens the way ahead after 76.73 percent of the 42.32 percent of the electorate who voted cast ballots voting in favour, according to interior ministry returns based on 100 percent of ballots counted.
"Our vote is a message to our fellow EU citizens who were awaiting our decision. Today Europe won, the EU constitution won, Spain won," Zapatero said, inviting neighbouring EU states "to follow Spain's path."
Earlier, casting his own ballot, he said a vote in favour would mean "a more united and a stronger Europe."
In theory at least, all 25 states have to back the text, designed to streamline decision-making in the expanding European Union, before it can come into effect.
The level of turnout of more than 14 million voters outstripped analysts' forecasts which had feared a showing of below 40 percent.
Nonetheless, the turnout was the lowest in any vote since the restoration of democracy following the death of military dictator General Francisco Franco in 1975, prompting opposition parties to dub the result a slap in the face for Zapatero's Socialist government.
Main conservative opposition leader Mariano Rajoy said Zapatero had tried to organise the vote too quickly and dubbed the outcome a failure which "cannot serve as a model for anyone in Europe.
But he added that "the constitution is good for Europe."
By comparison, more than three-quarters of the electorate turned out overall for last April's general election, three days after the Madrid train bombings blamed on Islamic radicals galvanised popular feeling.
First deputy prime minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega hailed the outcome, however.
"Today we can say we are the first in Europe, and the first with Europe," she said.
Amid doom-laden predictions of a humiliatingly low turnout Zapatero had urged citizens not to be apathetic but to use their vote and say yes to Europe.
The referendum is purely consultative, and parliament will ultimately have to ratify the decision.
The 34.6 million eligible voters were asked the simple question: "Do you approve the treaty instituting a constitution for Europe?"
"They are preaching to the converted -- and many of us are not converted," grumbled Rodrigo, an engineer in his late 40s who said he would not be voting.
King Juan Carlos, who does not vote in general elections, was among the first to cast his ballot in Madrid along with Queen Sofia.
In previous referendums -- for political reform in 1976, for a democratic constitution in 1978 and to stay in NATO (news - web sites) in 1986 -- turnout ranged from 60 to 78 percent.
Spain has been the primary beneficiary of EU structural aid since it joined what was then the European Community in 1986 but the aid will in future be spread more thinly following last year's enlargement.
Yes votes were high across the board but dipped in the northern Basque region and Catalonia, where moderate nationalists govern at regional level.
Five fringe parties opposed the constitution, feeling the text does not go far enough towards creating a social Europe of the regions.
Beyond Spain, parliaments of Slovenia, Lithuania and Hungary have already ratified the text, as has the lower house of the Italian parliament, though the Italian upper chamber still has to approve the text.
Heavy security was on hand across Spain with some 106,000 police on duty according to media reports amid worries that Basque armed separatist group ETA was planning an attack timed to coincide with the referendum.
Spain says resounding yes to European constitution
Sun Feb 20, 6:37 PM ET World - AFP
MADRID (AFP) - Spaniards gave a resounding seal of approval to the new European constitution in a referendum, with nearly four in five of those casting ballots backing the text, final official results showed.
Spain was the first of 10 EU states called upon to give the proposed constitution its popular backing, with the remaining 15 member states of the bloc, including the largest nation, Germany, preferring parliamentary ratification.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said his compatriots had shown their fellow EU citizens the way ahead after 76.73 percent of the 42.32 percent of the electorate who voted cast ballots voting in favour, according to interior ministry returns based on 100 percent of ballots counted.
"Our vote is a message to our fellow EU citizens who were awaiting our decision. Today Europe won, the EU constitution won, Spain won," Zapatero said, inviting neighbouring EU states "to follow Spain's path."
Earlier, casting his own ballot, he said a vote in favour would mean "a more united and a stronger Europe."
In theory at least, all 25 states have to back the text, designed to streamline decision-making in the expanding European Union, before it can come into effect.
The level of turnout of more than 14 million voters outstripped analysts' forecasts which had feared a showing of below 40 percent.
Nonetheless, the turnout was the lowest in any vote since the restoration of democracy following the death of military dictator General Francisco Franco in 1975, prompting opposition parties to dub the result a slap in the face for Zapatero's Socialist government.
Main conservative opposition leader Mariano Rajoy said Zapatero had tried to organise the vote too quickly and dubbed the outcome a failure which "cannot serve as a model for anyone in Europe.
But he added that "the constitution is good for Europe."
By comparison, more than three-quarters of the electorate turned out overall for last April's general election, three days after the Madrid train bombings blamed on Islamic radicals galvanised popular feeling.
First deputy prime minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega hailed the outcome, however.
"Today we can say we are the first in Europe, and the first with Europe," she said.
Amid doom-laden predictions of a humiliatingly low turnout Zapatero had urged citizens not to be apathetic but to use their vote and say yes to Europe.
The referendum is purely consultative, and parliament will ultimately have to ratify the decision.
The 34.6 million eligible voters were asked the simple question: "Do you approve the treaty instituting a constitution for Europe?"
"They are preaching to the converted -- and many of us are not converted," grumbled Rodrigo, an engineer in his late 40s who said he would not be voting.
King Juan Carlos, who does not vote in general elections, was among the first to cast his ballot in Madrid along with Queen Sofia.
In previous referendums -- for political reform in 1976, for a democratic constitution in 1978 and to stay in NATO (news - web sites) in 1986 -- turnout ranged from 60 to 78 percent.
Spain has been the primary beneficiary of EU structural aid since it joined what was then the European Community in 1986 but the aid will in future be spread more thinly following last year's enlargement.
Yes votes were high across the board but dipped in the northern Basque region and Catalonia, where moderate nationalists govern at regional level.
Five fringe parties opposed the constitution, feeling the text does not go far enough towards creating a social Europe of the regions.
Beyond Spain, parliaments of Slovenia, Lithuania and Hungary have already ratified the text, as has the lower house of the Italian parliament, though the Italian upper chamber still has to approve the text.
Heavy security was on hand across Spain with some 106,000 police on duty according to media reports amid worries that Basque armed separatist group ETA was planning an attack timed to coincide with the referendum.