Which Way Europe?

Two voting sessions within a few weeks of each other could set the direction for future events within Europe. The first was the vote for the new pope, Benedict XVI. The second is the French referendum on the EU constitution. Both could have far-reaching implications for the Continent and the world.

by Darris McNeely

Within minutes of the appearance of former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger on the balcony of St. Peter's as the newly elected Pope Benedict XVI, a commentator said one of the new pope's priorities would be the "re-conversion of Europe."

If so, he will be laboring against centuries of decline in belief and church attendance in Europe. He may get his chance if the expected outcome of this month's French referendum on the European constitution goes the way polls show it will.

French vote on European constitution

On May 29, French voters will vote yes or no on the adoption of the European constitution. Although considerable efforts are being made to reverse this trend, recent polls have shown that 53 to 55 percent would vote "no."

All it takes is one EU member nation to say no and theoretically the constitution is all but dead. Valery Giscard d'Estang, former president of France and father of Europe's constitutional treaty, has said there would be a "crisis" if the treaty were rejected. Since this document is the result of major negotiations and compromises involving thousands of participants, it is likely a new constitution would have to be negotiated.

Several factors are fueling the French opposition, not all of them related to the merits of the document. The French electorate has grown increasingly unhappy with the Chirac government and the direction of the French economy. People are unhappy with the unemployment rate, which is over 10 percent. Workers want higher pay and fear the government may require more than the present 35-hour work week. Large demonstrations throughout the country illustrate the deep dissatisfaction with government policy.

Scandals within the Chirac government also fuel the opposition. In March a trial began for 47 people associated with Jacques Chirac, including politicians, party officials and representatives of some of France's biggest building companies. The defendants are implicated in corruption schemes dating back to when Chirac was the mayor of Paris in the 1990s. This has clouded the credibility of the political elite who favor ratification of the constitution.

Read the full article at www.wnponline.org/wnp/wnp0505/index.htm

Related Information on UCG Sites:

Table of Contents that includes "Which Way Europe?"
Other Articles by Darris McNeely

Catholicism:

Pope:

European Union - unity:

Search Our Site
Key Subjects Index
General Topics Index
Biblical References Index
Good News Magazine Index
Booklets and All Literature Index
Home Page of this site