The Hindu : International : Polls predict Dutch "No" in E.U. vote

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 02, 2005

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International

Polls predict Dutch "No" in E.U. vote

Opponents of the Constitution referendum fear the Netherlands will be engulfed by a "superstate"

AMSTERDAM (THE NETHERLANDS): The Dutch voted on Wednesday in their first national referendum, choosing whether to accept a proposed European Union Constitution. Opinion polls indicated the Netherlands could join France in rejecting the historic document.

Pollsters predicted that nearly 60 per cent would say ``No'' — a rejection that, following France's firm ``No'' on Sunday, would leave Europe's leaders without a clear backup plan for the charter, which needs approval from all 25 E.U. nations to take effect in late 2006.

Nine countries have ratified the Constitution, either by referendum or parliamentary vote. France was the first to reject it, and some analysts said the Gallic ``No'' could embolden Dutch voters who had wanted to avoid the stigma of casting a lone veto.

Non-binding

Voting booths opened at 7:30 a.m. (local time) and were to close at 9 p.m. (local time), with the first results within a half hour and a final tally two hours later.

The referendum is non-binding, but Dutch leaders have pledged to accept it as long as the result is clear and turnout is above 30 per cent.

Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende voted at his local station in Capelle aan den Ijssel, near Rotterdam, quipping to reporters and photographers: ``You did note correctly that that was a `yes' vote, right?'' He had issued a last-minute plea for a ``yes'' vote on Tuesday night.

Supporters of the Constitution — including both Mr. Balkenende's conservative Government and the main Opposition Labour Party — say it would streamline decision-making in the European Union and give Europe more sway in international affairs by create a single foreign minister to represent the bloc. with``I think it's a good thing if there's a strong Europe,'' Jaena Padberg, an early ``yes'' voter, said on Wednesday outside a busy voting station at a community school in Amsterdam. ``It's good that our rights will be secured.''

But opponents fear that the Netherlands, a nation of just 16 million people, will be engulfed by a superstate headquartered in Brussels and dominated by Germany, France and Britain. It could mean the end of liberal Dutch policies such as tolerating marijuana use, prostitution and euthanasia, they say.

Discontent over prices

Still other voters said they cast ``no'' ballots to voice their discontent with the Dutch Government and register their anger over the rise in prices following the introduction of the euro in 2002.

Others fear Turkey will soon be admitted to the Union, worsening tensions between Dutch Muslims and the non-Muslim majority.

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