ALDE relieved by the "Yes" vote of the French Socialist Party on the European Constitution

12.00.00am GMT Thu 2nd Dec 2004

It is with great relief that Graham Watson, President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament, and Marielle de Sarnez, ALDE Vice-President, learned of the wise decision of French Socialist Party members to back the draft constitutional Treaty in an internal referendum. ALDE welcomes this democratic result which has shown that, beyond legitimate concerns on the course of current policies, French Socialists are aware that the pursuit of deepening of European construction constitutes a non-partisan national priority. ALDE now invites all political forces favourable to the ratification of the Constitution to mobilise in favour of a "yes" vote in the national referendum campaign.