Why did France reject the EU Constitution?
This analysis was written immediately after the French referendum result was known and forms the basis for a three part discussion about its implications. The French have just resoundingly voted down the EU constitution (about 55-45%). The Dutch are scheduled to vote on the constitution on June 1st and public opinion polls show it being defeated by an even wider margin than in France. This leads to the question of “Why?” How could the constitutional commission make such a grave error by presenting a document that would not be acceptable to the French or Dutch peoples who are seen as some of the founding fathers and strongest supporters of the EU? In answering these questions first it is important to remember that with any change as major as a new constitution there will be strong opposition just to the idea of change. However this being said there are, in my opinion, three major causes to the downfall of the EU constitution with the first two being surmountable, but the third may requi
