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Spanish Vote 'Yes' To EU Constitution
22 February 2005
Last weekend, the people of Spain voted in a referendum on the proposed EU Constitution.
The proposal to accept the constitution was received with a 'yes' vote of around 76 percent.
However, this may not be all that encouraging for the Spanish government, as only 41 percent of those eligible to vote did so. The size of the voter turn-out somewhat weakens the moral strength of the outcome.
After its years of repression under General Franco, Spain has benefited greatly from membership of the EU which it joined in 1986.
It has since received an average of more than €4.3 billion every year in investments from the EU. This funding has, among other things, allowed it to build a quality road system and to renew its rail network.
Some who voted 'yes' on the weekend have said that they did so because they believe a strong and united Europe is good for the world, providing some balance to other power interests.
Others voted 'no' because they see a united Europe as something that will increasingly stomp on their localized regional interests.
Futurists have written extensively of the coming surge of tribalism alongside the rise of globalization, as people seek greater protections of local traditional cultures.
Voters in all 25 EU nations, whose leaders have already approved the constitution, must accept it in a popular vote before it can be ratified.
Hungary, Lithuania and Slovenia have already voted for the constitution, but pundits see challenges ahead when it comes to nations which have tended to be more Euro-sceptic such as Britain and Denmark.
Mal Fletcher, a commentator on European issues, says: 'Many people will judge the constitution not on its content but on what they're told it contains – by media reports for example.'
'Others will form a view based on hyped-up advertisements, or on the basis of the financial rewards which seem to come from integration.'
'The issue needs more debate. It wouldn't hurt to slow things down a little to allow people to consider what the constitution means to them. After all, we're not just talking about nations cooperating together – they do that now.'
'We're talking about a significant reduction of local, national power and decision-making. The question must be asked: how far are we prepared to go with this, and how much are we willing to sign into law? Swift decisions are very often bad decisions.'
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