French Referendum on European Constitution: A Divisive Debatelands a Changed Political Landscape

France's participation in the European Constitution referendum has ignited a contentious debate within the country, exposing deep-seated divisions in society. The outcome of the vote, scheduled for May 29, remains uncertain, but the effects on the French political landscape are already apparent. Both the center-right government of President Jacques Chirac and the opposition Socialist Party are facing significant challenges, with opportunities arising for the far right and far left to enter the mainstream. The subsequent months of debate have highlighted discontent with the Chirac government, fueled by concerns over the proposed charter's impact on French society and the economy.

Key Takeaways:

• President Jacques Chirac, the main proponent of the European charter, is facing a weakened position, with his approval rating dropping to 32 percent, tying his record low, and his re-election in 2007 now deemed impossible.
• The center-right government is adrift, requiring new leadership and ideas, with strategists from the far right and far left sensing opportunities to enter the mainstream.
• The Socialist Party, currently the main opposition, is grappling with a significant crisis, including internal debates over the party's stance on the charter, with some arguments for and against it, and a need for an ideological transformation.
• Key figures, such as the former Prime Minister Laurent Fabius, have actively campaigned against the charter, which could have a significant impact on the referendum's outcome.
• The party faces the possibility of a rupture if it fails to reinvent itself and clarify its identity before the 2007 elections.
• The debate has exposed a split along socioeconomic lines, with those who are less well-off planning to vote against the charter.
• Nicolas Sarkozy, Chirac's main rival, has used the yes campaign to contradict the president on crucial issues, such as Turkish entry to the European Union.