21/02/2005 11:38:34 am
The EU Constitution: Socialism or Capitalism? Yesterday, Spain had a referendum about the proposed EU Constitutional Treaty. Some 77 % voted yes and the turnout was low - just over 40 % - as expected. Another eight countries have decided that they will have referendums. It is funny to see how the same document sometimes can be described in totally different terms. The British right claim that this Constitution would be the final victory for (French) socialism in Europe. The French left - on the no-side - claim that it would be the final victory of (British) laissez-faire liberalism. Who is right? None - and both. The proposed Constitution is a compromise, as it always would be. Thus, it contains parts from both these ideological directions. And it is all a matter of what you, as a no-campaigner, can find in the document which you believe would scare people in your own country. Obviously very different things. The referendums will say much about the political debate in the varoius European countries and less about the document.