Luxembourgian referendum on the European Constitution
Encyclopedia
The Luxembourg referendum on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe is a referendum
that was held on 10 July 2005 to decide whether Luxembourg
should ratify
the proposed Constitution
of the European Union
.
56.52% of the 220,717 voters said "yes". Voting bureaus were open from 8am till 2pm.
Luxembourg was the 13th EU member state to approve the EU treaty. It was the second referendum with a vote in favor of the EU treaty (after Spain) and the first referendum since the French and the Dutch voters rejected the EU treaty. Jean-Claude Juncker, Luxembourgish PM, expected a close vote. The last opinion poll a month before the referendum indicated a small advantage for the "yes", but a substantial 16% of non-decided.
The referendum was Luxembourg's first since 1937, when a proposal to join Germany
was rejected. Luxembourg is traditionally regarded as one of the EU's most enthusiastic member states, and most prominent political figures support the Constitution, with both the governing coalition and the main opposition parties campaigning for a 'yes' vote.
The poll was consultative in nature but the parliament agreed to abide by the people's majority vote. Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker
had said he would resign if the referendum resulted in a 'no' vote. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4606309.stm
On 28 June 2005, Luxembourg's parliament approved the constitution in advance of the referendum. http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2005/06/28/afx2115232.html
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
that was held on 10 July 2005 to decide whether Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
should ratify
Ratification
Ratification is a principal's approval of an act of its agent where the agent lacked authority to legally bind the principal. The term applies to private contract law, international treaties, and constitutionals in federations such as the United States and Canada.- Private law :In contract law, the...
the proposed Constitution
Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe
The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe , , was an unratified international treaty intended to create a consolidated constitution for the European Union...
of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
56.52% of the 220,717 voters said "yes". Voting bureaus were open from 8am till 2pm.
Luxembourg was the 13th EU member state to approve the EU treaty. It was the second referendum with a vote in favor of the EU treaty (after Spain) and the first referendum since the French and the Dutch voters rejected the EU treaty. Jean-Claude Juncker, Luxembourgish PM, expected a close vote. The last opinion poll a month before the referendum indicated a small advantage for the "yes", but a substantial 16% of non-decided.
The referendum was Luxembourg's first since 1937, when a proposal to join Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
was rejected. Luxembourg is traditionally regarded as one of the EU's most enthusiastic member states, and most prominent political figures support the Constitution, with both the governing coalition and the main opposition parties campaigning for a 'yes' vote.
The poll was consultative in nature but the parliament agreed to abide by the people's majority vote. Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker
Jean-Claude Juncker
Jean-Claude Juncker is a Luxembourg politician, 23rd and current Prime Minister of Luxembourg, since 20 January 1995. He is the longest standing head of government of any European Union state...
had said he would resign if the referendum resulted in a 'no' vote. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4606309.stm
On 28 June 2005, Luxembourg's parliament approved the constitution in advance of the referendum. http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2005/06/28/afx2115232.html
Analysis
A study of the campaign and referendum results by the political scientists of the University of Luxembourg.Results
External links
- Official results
- BBC: EU apathy reigns in Luxembourg 29 October 2004