Posted on 06/13/2008 12:31:34 PM PDT by TLI
More than 50 percent of Irish voters rejected the European Union Treaty meant to streamline decision-making for the 27-member union. Tendai Maphosa has this report from London.
Results of Thursday's referendum trickled in throughout the day Friday and it was not looking good for supporters of the EU treaty. The official announcement was met with jubilation by opponents of the document.
OFFICIAL: "Votes in favor of the proposal 752,451, votes against the proposal 862,415."
Ireland was the only EU member that required a popular vote on the treaty, because it would have needed to make constitutional changes before it could be ratified.
The changes outlined in the document were meant to make decision making easier in the EU, but Irish voters expressed fears of a loss of national identity. They were also worried that Europe is evolving into a super state with its own money and army; this they said would threaten Irish neutrality. There is also suspicion about a perceived loss of control of the economy and of cultural values. The predominantly Catholic electorate suspected that the treaty would bring in abortion rights, a sensitive subject in Ireland.
Jose Manuel Barroso addresses media on at EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, 13 June 2008 Despite pronouncements that the treaty would be shelved if the Irish voted against it, European Union President Jose Manuel Barosso said it is still up for discussion.
"Our position is this one; 18 member states have already approved the treaty. One, Ireland, voted no. We should go on now with the process. At the same time, the leaders should meet should meet and see what possibilities are there for a collective response to this issue, because there is a collective responsibility," he said.
In 2005 French and Dutch voters rejected a European constitution. This led to the current treaty which European leaders signed in Lisbon late last year, which has just been rejected by the Irish.
Great news! My blue funk Friday is getting brighter.
OK, let every other nation in Europe have a popular referendum on the treaty, and if they all vote YES ( fat chance! ) then proceed.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Way to go, Ireland! Joining the EU would’ve been national suicide for them, another example of a European country going to the right, finally.
Now, if this country just would.
Exactly. The arrogance on display by government officials in general has become increasingly apparent as of late:
“Our position is this one; 18 member states have already approved the treaty. One, Ireland, voted no. We should go on now with the process.”
So wait, the one member state that allows the people to vote overwhelmingly rejects the idea, and your idea is to proceed? If these guys really were concerned about a government of and by the people, they’d put this up for a vote in their respective countries.
Instead, they’ll just let beurocrats vote to form an even larger beurocracy. Gee, I wonder how the vote on that one is going to turn out?
Its becoming obvious that real people will be at war with the educrat wonks shortly....
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