By Brian Johnson - 7th July 2005
Luxembourg goes to the polls on Sunday in a referendum vote that could revive hopes of salvaging parts of the EU’s troubled constitution, or finish the treaty off for good.
Despite the constitution rejections by France and the Netherlands, Luxembourg’s 200,000 voters are likely to have the final say on whether the EU keeps the ratification process alive.
Jean-Claude Juncker has said that if his country’s voters reject the constitution, then “this would clearly mean the treaty would be dead.”
But the long serving Prime Minister, who recently re-stated that he would step down if the treaty is rejected on July 10 believes that a yes vote would revive the whole constitution process.
“If Luxembourg says yes then it could be the signal that the [ratification] process is still alive,” said Juncker, during last minute campaigning.
Yes supporters hope the popular Juncker will sway voters, after the country’s no campaigners managed to cut a 20 per cent ‘yes’ lead to single figures in less than six months.
Opinion polls in Luxembourg are banned a month before votes, but the last poll before the ban put the ‘no’ camp at only eight points behind the ‘yes’ campaign.
Juncker has been reminding voters of what Luxembourg has gained from EU membership and has argued that the tiny country would be in a strong position on any future negotiations of Europe’s future if Luxembourg votes yes on Sunday.
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.