Spaniards Approve EU Constitution in Referendum

The approval of a new constitution by referendum is always news. In the case of Spain’s approval of the new EU fundamental law, however, it is news only because it was the first such vote, with 8 to 10 other member states to hold similar referenda in the near future. There was never a question that Spain would OK the new treaty. Which explains both the high margin of victory and the low voter turnout.

When asked, "Do you approve the treaty establishing a constitution for Europe?" Spaniards voted “Sí” by a margin of 3 to 1. Yet at the same time 9 out of 10 of voting age in the Iberian kingdom said they didn’t know much about the treaty’s provision or how the new constitution would affect Spain. Only 42% of voters turned up to cast their ballots.

Spain is one of the EU winners. Membership in the 25-nation Union gives Spain a bigger say in world affairs that it would otherwise have. A former British prime minister said of his country’s special relationship with the US that it permitted Britain to “punch above its weight” in world affairs. The same is true of Spain; a middleweight nation, the EU lets Spain play in heavyweight affairs.

Spaniards, of course, have benefited materially from their membership as well. The insane Common Agricultural Policy and regional stabilization payments have brought Spain into a prosperity unthinkable in the 1950s or 1960s. Moreover, during the trying transition to democracy from the stupidity that was the Franco regime, EU membership helped protect the fledgling democratic institutions and spirit of liberty in Spain. (And one cannot forget King Juan Carlos, who proved the value of a monarchy by ordering the army to support the elected government during the 1981 coup attempt).

Spain needn’t have held a referendum, and indeed, this one is non-binding. The Cortes will formally ratify the deal. Moreover, the nation is pro-EU to the core, and the vote merely demonstrated how deeply held that view is. But yesterday’s balloting also created a momentum that the other countries can rely upon as they debate the phonebook-sized agreement. It has just become that much harder to say “No” – or “Non” or “Nein.”

© Copyright 2005 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent.

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