French referendum: analysis and consequences

[Beet]

Discuss possible impacts of today's vote. I guess Mr Blair has dodged a bullet here.

[Beet]

Nobody is interested in this? the results page seems pretty active. What do people think?

[Beet]

It seems as if most people voted on economic issues against a "liberal" Europe. This is definitely a collapse of the center in French politics, very much like the collapse of the center in the early to mid-1930s. Which means that either the far left or the far right will come in to fill the void. Both have had their day yesterday and will have their day again soon, but it remains to be seen which one will ultimately triumph and steer a bold new direction for France.

[Beet]

Interestingly, those leaders that supported Bush in the leadup to the war in Iraq have all withstood challenges and succeeded, though Italy is hanging by a thread.  The Paris-Berlin Axis, on the other hand, is in danger of collapse. 

This has nothing to do with the EU referendum, per se, just an interesting side note.

Putin, Chirac, and Schroeder are all still very much alive, and the only one in danger of being ousted before the end of the year is Schroeder, and that's only because of his own suicidal choice.

Aznar on the other hand is already out, and Berlusconi, despite trying his damndest to hang on to every last moment of power, is looking at uphill in early 2006.