French socialists refuse referendum

[spartacus]

The French Socialist Party is refusing to allow people in France to vote on the Lisbon Treaty.
In order to pass the Treaty without putting it back to the people (who voted no the last time they were asked), the government can pass it by a 60% majority in the legislature.

The socialists and the left could get could 40% blocking minority to force a referendum, but the leadership of the Socialist Party have instead decided to abstain from the vote in order to allow the Treaty to pass unhindered.

The leadership of the party supports the Treaty, while the majority of the members and supporters voted no the the EU constitution and would do the same with the reheated constitution (the Lisbon Treaty).

A number of socialist senators and members of the national assemby (TDs) are still working to persuade their party to respect the democratic will of the membership and of "la republique"

[smiffy]

The leadership of the party supports the Treaty, while the majority of the members and supporters voted no the the EU constitution and would do the same with the reheated constitution (the Lisbon Treaty).

Yes, clearly they will be punished when they next put themselves before the electorate, just as Segolene Royal convincingly won the Presidential elections last year after promising a referendum, humiliating her opponent Nicolas Sarkozy, who favoured parliamentary ratification.

Oh, wait ...

[FutureTaoiseach]

Many of the Socialists in France want power and wealth in Brussels when they leave their domestic political careers. The spirit of Vichy is alive and well in France. Remember the allegations about the late President Mitterand during Vichy?

[corkman2007]

Many of the Socialists in France want power and wealth in Brussels when they leave their domestic political careers. The spirit of Vichy is alive and well in France.

That was quick. It usually takes a few pages into the thread before someone compares the EU to the Third Reich!

[NotDevsSon]

Many of the Socialists in France want power and wealth in Brussels when they leave their domestic political careers. The spirit of Vichy is alive and well in France.

That was quick. It usually takes a few pages into the thread before someone compares the EU to the Third Reich!

And of course particularly ironic from a former follower of Mein Fuhrer, Herr McDowell. :P

[Trampas]

Many of the Socialists in France want power and wealth in Brussels when they leave their domestic political careers. The spirit of Vichy is alive and well in France.

That was quick. It usually takes a few pages into the thread before someone compares the EU to the Third Reich!

....or 1,400,000,000 Muslims with a few Northern Ireland nationalists.

[spartacus]

The French Socialist Party is refusing to allow people in France to vote on the Lisbon Treaty.
In order to pass the Treaty without putting it back to the people (who voted no the last time they were asked), the government can pass it by a 60% majority in the legislature.

The socialists and the left could get could 40% blocking minority to force a referendum, but the leadership of the Socialist Party have instead decided to abstain from the vote in order to allow the Treaty to pass unhindered.

The leadership of the party supports the Treaty, while the majority of the members and supporters voted no the the EU constitution and would do the same with the reheated constitution (the Lisbon Treaty).

A number of socialist senators and members of the national assemby (TDs) are still working to persuade their party to respect the democratic will of the membership and of "la republique"

A number of socialists voted against a referendum.

Question for Labour Party posters:
If you could avoid a referendum, like the leadership of the French Socialist Party, would you do so?

[Riadach]

Many of the Socialists in France want power and wealth in Brussels when they leave their domestic political careers. The spirit of Vichy is alive and well in France.

That was quick. It usually takes a few pages into the thread before someone compares the EU to the Third Reich!

....or 1,400,000,000 Muslims with a few Northern Ireland nationalists.

But trampas only needs one page to bring up muslims apparently.

[Electro]

Reds giving up national sovereignty for the sake of internationalism??? Incredible...

[Pax]

The no vote the last time around was a class vote - working class and lower middle class people voted no in opposition to a blueprint for neo-liberal economics which favored privitisation and gave no protection to public services..just like the present treaty in fact.

The only social category that voted a majority for the yes was the mid to upper managers and professionals. So if they're to stick to their manifesto and represent those they say they represent then they should push for a vote.

As regards smiffy's point about why Segolene lost, that can hardly be put at the door of supporting a referendum. She was somewhat of a French lame Blairite, who failed to tap into the very same left vote which opposed the treaty originally. Albeit in the rest of her polices if not on the treaty.