Socialists in France give lift to EU charter

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Socialists in France give lift to EU charter

By Katrin Bennhold and Graham Bowley International Herald Tribune Friday, December 3, 2004

PARIS A resounding vote in favor of the European Union constitution by France's opposition Socialist Party was welcomed Thursday across a Continent that faces a string of national referendums on the treaty next year.
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After three months of fierce debate between high-profile advocates and opponents of the constitution, an unexpected 59 percent of card-carrying Socialists endorsed the document in a late-night ballot on Wednesday, a result that was the stronger for a turnout of 80 percent.
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At a press conference on Thursday, the leader of the Socialist Party, François Hollande, said the vote was an example for the rest of Europe.
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"The Socialists have opened the way for the ratification process in all of Europe," said Hollande, who had led the campaign in favor of the treaty. "They have sent the best signal possible to mobilize the trust of Europeans in their common future."
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The treaty, which was signed by EU leaders in Rome in October, needs ratification by all 25 member states by October 2006 if it is to be adopted...cont'd

http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/12/02/news/france.html

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