The EU in French presidential elections
Monday 12 March 2007
On the 22nd of April, French voters will probably have to choose between more than 10 wannabe presidents (the list is not yet confirmed since the candidates have until the 16th of March to obtain the 500 signatures needed to be eligible).
At EU Democrats, we have decided to simplify the voters’ choice by providing a summary of the major potential candidate’s position on the EU.
Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, member of EUD, favors the establishment of a multi-speed Europe based on a case by case cooperation between willing Member States. He considers that supranationality is not a realistic answer to the EU’s challenges. The EU lacks Democracy and the future of the EU should rest as closely as possible to the citizens. Finally the EU should be used as a protection against globalization. Nicolas Dupont-Aignan voted against the Constitution and calls the French leaders to respect the decision of the people. (more)
François Bayrou, thinks that not only the EU is a good ideal but also a necessity in our globalised world. He promotes a multi-speed Europe, a political core Europe within a larger legal Europe. The EU lacks transparency and democracy: any new proposals or treaty must be made clearer and must be submitted to a referendum. (more)
Ségolène Royal is in favor of a social Europe, a Europe that would insure employment and a minimum social protection for all. She also considers that the EU needs to be made more democratic and calls for a referendum on any new constitutional propositions. (more)
Nicolas Besancenot believes that despite the good idea that is the EU, the technocratic way it is organised took it away from the citizens. He advocates an EU more social, democratic, pacifist and ecologic. He encouraged his voters to vote against the Constitution during the French referendum. (more)
Arlette Laguiller like many other candidates finds the EU undemocratic and she thinks that the Constitution will make it even less by giving more power to bigger states. She regrets that the EU is being created in the interest of the big companies. (more)
Dominique Voynet acknowledges the economic and political successes of the EU but, at the same time, she regrets that it has been unable to tackle some of the citizens’ concerns such as environment, health, research and solidarity. She favors the writing of a new Constitution. (more)
Marie-George Buffet made it clear that she will respect the French and the Dutch “No”. Furthermore, she underlines that the crisis in which the EU is can be explained by its liberal nature and by its complete disconnection from the citizens. Finally she expressed her support to the organisation of a new referendum if a Constitution was to be established. (more)
José Bové is clearly against any “Europe of the Markets”. He stated that the Constitution should be started from scratch and that a constituent assembly should be appointed to establish the later. (more)
Philippe de Villiers wants the construction of a “Europe of Nations without Turkey”. He also favors the possibility of free collaboration between willing Member States. He advocates a Europe ruled by the people and not by unelected commissioners. (more)
Nicolas Sarkozy promotes the establishment of a “mini-treaty” that would take up "about two-thirds" of novelties from the Constitution that was "not critical" issues during the failed referenda in France and the Netherlands. The EU is a protection against globalisation and must be clearly limited in term of geography. Furthermore, Sarkozy clearly stated that he will not submit any new treaty to a referendum. (more)
Jean-Marie le Pen is particularly nationalist and thus, he would halt further European integration. Europe is “blind, deaf, coward and demagogue” and drawn France into its current catastrophic situation. The Constitution as it is now would simply end the existence of France as an independent state. (more)
However, the EU has not yet taken a real importance in the campaign. Actually, media seems more interesting in gossiping about the major wannabes than enlightening the French citizens with real inputs on every candidate’s program. Maybe, it will change. Maybe not. To be continued…
By Anaïs Camus, EUD researcher
For more information, please contact: anais@eudemocrats.org