French Socialist Pacifies Turkey

The French opposition party, the Socialist Party, held a vote among its delegates on the EU Constitution in which 55 percent voted "yes." The "mini referendum" was held amongst about 120,000 delegates of the party- a reportedly high participation rate. The results of the referendum are interpreted as a victory for Socialist Party Secretary-General Francois Hollande over former Prime Minister Laurent Fabius, the number two man in the party. Another referendum will be held on the EU Constitution in France in May or June of 2005.

The results of the Socialist Party referendum are expected to have a positive impact, although only partial and indirect, on France’s attitude towards beginning full membership negotiations between Turkey and the EU. Foreign policy experts say the issues of the EU Constitution and Turkey’s membership bid are unwillingly intermingled in France and had predicted that President Jacques Chirac would receive partial relief regarding Turkey in the event of a ‘yes’ vote from the Socialists on the EU Constitution.

Meanwhile, EU Commission President Jose Durao Barroso said he was also pleased to hear that the EU Constitution was approved within the Socialist Party in France. Barroso predicts voting might have an effect on the 25-member Union.