FRANCE: FRENCH BRIDES SAY "I DO" ON THEIR BIG DAY BUT WILL FRANCE SAY "YES" TO THE EU CONSTITUTION?

Record ID: 648853

  • Title: FRANCE: FRENCH BRIDES SAY "I DO" ON THEIR BIG DAY BUT WILL FRANCE SAY "YES" TO THE EU CONSTITUTION?
  • Date: 28th May 2005
  • Summary: (BN10)PARIS, FRANCE (MAY 28, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. GV/CU: EXTERIOR OF TOWN HALL IN THE 18TH DISTRICT; FRENCH FLAG (2 SHOTS) 0.09 2. GV/PAN/CU: TOWN HALL EMPLOYEE CARRYING BALLOT BOX AND INSTALLING IT IN THE POLLING STATION; BALLOT BOX WITH INSCRIPTION "18TH DISTRICT - POLLING STATION NO 1" (3 SHOTS) 0.30 3. GV: MAN INSTALLING VOTING BOOTH IN TOWN HALL (3 SHOTS) 0.47 4. GV: EXTERIOR OF TOWN HALL WITH NEWLY WEDS 0.50 5. (SOUNDBITE) (French) UNIDENTIFIED BRIDE SAYING: "Today, I say Yes" 0.56 6. GV/CU: EXTERIOR OF TOWN HALL IN THE 16TH DISTRICT WITH BILLBOARDS, YES AND NO POSTERS (2 SHOTS) 1.04 7. MV: NEWLY WEDS COMING OUT OF TOWNHALL 1.06 8. (SOUNDBITE) (French) UNIDENTIFIED NEWLY WEDS SAYING: "Today, we say Yes, and tomorrow we'll see !" 1.12 9. MCU: ANOTHER NEWLY WEDS: (SOUNDBITE) (French) UNIDENTIFIED NEWLY WEDS SAYING: "Yes for today and Yes for tomorrow" 1.18 10. MV/CU: TOWN HALL EMPLOYEE SELECTING PROXIES (2 SHOTS) 1.28 11. GV/CU: POLLING STATION AND TOWN HALL EMPLOYEE PUTTING BALLOT BOX ON TABLE; BALLOT BOX; "YES" AND "NO" BALLOT PAPERS IN BALLOT BOX (4 SHOTS) 1.50 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 12th June 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PARIS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVACI3DJS31IQPFKLWAYVSL2SN28
  • Story Text: Polling stations get ready just one day before the
    crucial referendum on the EU constitution, as newlyweds
    indicate which way they will vote.



    There was a busy atmosphere in Paris town halls on
    Saturday (May 28) with civil servants preparing the polling
    stations, just one day before a crucial referendum on the
    European Union's constitution.

    One survey on Friday (May 27) showed a sharp drop in
    the size of the majority opposing the treaty, giving its
    supporters some hope going into the vote. The lone poll
    could be a lifeline for the "Yes" camp, led by President
    Jacques Chirac.

    Supporters say rejection would kill the constitution
    and weaken France in Europe. Opponents say a "No" vote
    would force the EU to redraft the treaty and improve it.

    A poll by Ifop research group on Friday showed the "No"
    camp on 56 percent support. But a survey by CSA polling
    group showed 52 percent of voters who have decided how to
    vote will oppose the charter, a drop of 3 percentage points
    since Thursday.

    The CSA poll put supporters of the treaty on 48
    percent, a figure that rose to 49 percent among voters
    questioned on Friday -- one day after Chirac made a final
    televised plea to voters to back the constitution.

    Most weddings are celebrated on Saturdays, and various
    couples were asked how they would vote in the forthcoming
    referendum. Many Newlyweds said "Yes" (pledging their
    marriage vows) on Saturday but may say "No" (in the
    referendum) on Sunday. Coming out of the 18th district
    townhall, one happy couple said "Today, we say Yes, and
    tomorrow we'll see !". Another couple said : "Yes for today
    and Yes for tomorrow".

    A second referendum would be unlikely in France,
    political analysts say, and French and EU leaders say there
    is no "Plan B" to fall back on if French voters reject the
    treaty.

    Voters as far away as French Polynesia in the Pacific
    Ocean vote on the treaty on Saturday, along with those in
    Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guiana and Saint-Pierre and
    Miquelon.

    The constitution is intended to make the EU work more
    smoothly following its enlargement last year and requires
    the backing of all 25 member states to go into force.

    Supporters say the constitution will help make Europe
    and France stronger. Opponents say it enshrines economic
    policies that have failed to stop the loss of jobs to
    low-wage economies, including to countries outside the
    European Union such as China.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register