France Rejects EU Treaty, Europe Faces Crisis

France overwhelmingly rejected the European Union’s constitution in a referendum on Sunday, pollsters’ projections showed, plunging the EU into crisis and dealing a possibly fatal blow to a pact designed to make it run smoothly.

The heavy defeat dreaded by EU leaders could weaken France in the 25-member bloc, stall European integration and unsettle some financial markets. It also wounds President Jacques Chirac two years before presidential and parliamentary elections.
Reuters