The French Referendum in May 2005
No.4(2005)
Abstract
Keywords:
France; referendum; EU constitution; electoral geography; election studies
This article discusses the results of the French referendum in May 2005 which was very important for the ratification of the European constitution. It first describes the rules of referendum in the French political system of the Fifth Republic and then goes on to analyze the stances taken by the French political parties and their main representatives in the 2005 referendum. The results of the referendum are analyzed in connection with geographical areas and compared with the results of the referendum in 1992. In selected departments the results of the referendum are also compared with the results of the French presidential elections in 1995 and 2002.
France; referendum; EU constitution; electoral geography; election studies