Growing Opposition to EU Constitution in Ireland

Kim Murphy
Los Angeles Times
May 31, 2008

Los Angeles Times | It seems that Murdoch and the neo-cons really have it in for Condoleezza Rice these days, quite a change from when they greeted her replacement of Colin Powell with undisguised glee at the beginning of Bush’s second term.

NENAGH, IRELAND — The “Yes on the EU” bus rolled into town blaring a foot-stomping “Galway Girl” from its megaphone one afternoon this week, but what it got was a whole lot of no.

An Irishman has always been a hard sell, and never more so than when issues of sovereignty are at stake.

“People died for your freedom,” declares one of the signs that have popped up across this agricultural town in the weeks before Ireland votes June 12 on the European Union’s new constitution. “Don’t throw it away.”

Farmer Ida McLoughlin isn’t sold on the other posters plastered around town: “Vote yes for jobs, the economy and Ireland’s future.”

“Since the EU, all you see are 4x4s going down the street and big buildings going up. The thatched cottages are gone,” McLoughlin said. “You have all these Johnny-come-lately people who were poor and got rich, and they’re dreadful people. We’ve lost our Irish values.”

Adoption of the so-called Lisbon Treaty requires ratification by all 27 member states of the EU, which could take a much more prominent role on the world stage under the streamlined diplomacy and beefed-up military readiness envisioned under the document. Already, 14 nations have ratified the agreement through their parliaments, and the remainder are expected to do so by the end of the year. Only Ireland’s constitution requires a referendum — and that could make or break the long-awaited constitution.

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