Referendum: May 29, 2005. NON

The EU Constitution was rejected after a controversial public debate. Democracy international has conducted a survey: one million books on the EU Constitution were sold.

54.87 said "non" while 45.13 of the voters were in favour. The turnout of the referendum was very high, 69.74 per cent.

We will publish a monitoring report on the referendum.

In July 2004 the French President Jaques Chirac has called a referendum on the EU Constitution after hesitating a long time. The decision of Tony Blair to hold a referendum on the EU Constitution in the UK has finally put decisive pressure on Mr. Chirac.

The Constitutional Court pronounced its opinion in November 2004 saying that a revision of the French Constitution was needed before the ratification process.

The necessary changes of the French constitution were already approved by the Government and by the Parliament.

Read more facts on the ratification.