[spectre] European debate in France: before the vote

[saij netart]

France will vote tomorrow, Germany problably soon (Autumn 2005?)
For France the question is the european treaty, for Germany the national
government.

A number of messages expressed opinions of french artists on the list
regarding the referendum.
The results of the election in NRW (Germany) which gave a majority for the
conservative party since nearly 40 years brought also some comments on the
list.

The debate in France was very passionate. An explanation is the
appropriation of the subject by french citizens. It was not obvious.
The first opinion polls gave a 60/40 for a "yes". The politicians from the
leading parties (conservative and socialist, also democrats and ecologists),
the media (TV, radio, newspapers,..) spread ideas like:"the constitution
brings improvements", suggested that "intelligent, informed people are
voting "yes", only idiots and illiterate are voting "no" ".Then came
Chirac's affirmation "you can't be pro-european and vote "no", it's
incompatible and dishonnest". Other affirmation: "the constitution will keep
the 60 years peace we have in Europe".

After a while some critics appeared, questionning the treaty and calling for
a "no" to the treaty. The critics came from small parties: communist and
revolutionary parties on the one hand, sovereign, extreme right parties on
the other hand. The critics came also from citizens which used websites or
blogs to comment the treaty and explain why they intend to answer "no" to
the treaty. One private website received nearly 700 000 visitors!

The debate was launched and finally landed on spectre too! (as well as on
nettime-fr and nettime-fr-raw for instance). Artists are also citizens with
their political and professional ideas or expectations in France, Germany
and other countries
One point is sure: many french read (more or less) the treaty and built
their own opinion on juridical and/or economical points.
Not to forget: french citizens will vote, a situation which is not given to
electors of many other countries where the treaty is not publicly discussed
and just approved by parliaments.
Tomorrow, the result!
 
Isabel