2005 French European Constitution referendum

2005 French European Constitution referendum

29 May 2005 (2005-05-29)
Do you approve the bill authorising the ratification of the treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe?
Results
Choice Votes % Yes 12,808,270 45.33% No 15,449,508 54.67% Valid votes 28,257,778 97.48% Invalid or blank votes 730,522 2.52% Total votes 28,988,300 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 41,789,202 69.37%
Results by département Yes:      50–55%      >55% No:      50–55%      55–60%      > 60%

A referendum on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe was held in France on 29 May 2005 to decide whether the French government should ratify the proposed constitution of the European Union. The result was a victory for the "no" campaign, with 55% of voters rejecting the treaty on a turnout of 69%.

France was the second country to go to the polls in a referendum on ratification, after a Spanish referendum approved the treaty by a wide margin in February, but was the first to reject the treaty. France's rejection of the Constitution left the treaty with an uncertain future, with other EU member states pledging to continue with their own arrangements for ratification.

The result was surprising to political commentators, with those in favour of the "yes" vote having received 71% of mentions on television between 1 January and 31 March.^[1]