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Rollo Gleeson
Rollo
Hi, I'm Rollo. There's more about me here.

Constitution wars  ·  2005-05-05

What do all these Constitution-haters propose instead of the Constitution?

Yes, it is an elitist creation. No, it doesn’t create an “ideal” EU “based on need not profit”. Yes, there was definitely a pro-Constitution bias on France 2 tonight. But the Constitution is a lot simpler than what exists now, it has plenty of social innovations and no economic ones (just check it), its institutional clauses are desperately needed to cope with enlargement – and, not least, it is the product of two years’ work by a proper representative convention.

As ever, it is so much easier to say “no” and to condemn than it is to be in favour of something – especially something flawed like this Constitution. Sarkozy and others make all these points. I just hope the French can put aside their petulance and show a bit of maturity and realism.