Sarkozy Speaks

So, now it's almost official. What everyone knew, but wouldn't say, we are going to have to vote again on the Lisbon Treaty. Well that's what Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France has reportedly told some French deputies from his own party. Possibly in the second half of next year too. Quelle surprise, you might say and deja vu while you're at it. Yes it's almost like NiceI and NiceII all over again. First the protest vote at the first referendum then in the second referendum after a period of national reconsideration a yes vote to pass it through.

As someone who did vote "Yes" in the recent Lisbon referendum, I couldn't really see what all the fuss was about. Most of the issues were hashed over in the two previous Nice referendums to death, so I was not sure what people like Libertas were going on about at all. Let's be clear, we are now part of a 500 million strong economic and political union called The European Union. We share a strong currency called the Euro. This EU has expanded quite considerably in recent years and will do so again in the coming years. From time to time, it is necessary to change the way this vast union is run in the interests of increased efficiency. So why all the fuss about the Lisbon Treaty? Was it just a protest vote against the Government. Quite possibly so.

As to whether a second referendum would be passed say this time next year, I would venture that it would. After all, we don't want to be the odd man out of Europe. Do we? I don't think we do, so for this reason alone I would like to see the odds our esteemed bookmakers would give on a second referendum being passed, I might be tempted to put my first bet ever on something happening.

As for reports that Nicolas Sarkozy mentioned to some of his deputies that Ireland would have to vote again, I am not surprised either. It is the obvious solution to an Irish problem that has worked before. Incidentally, Mr Sarkozy according to reports had a cracking good start to his international relations mission at the weekend when he had a whole gang of Middle Eastern delegations in Paris. Seems the French were able to get these assorted enemies like the Syrians and the Israelis to dine in the same room together. I have heard comments elsewhere that this is all in aid of Europe gettting a bigger toehold in the Middle East for resources like oil,gas and solarpower. All I can say is, why not? The Americans and the Chinese are there, why not us Europeans?