Expatica - Its now 2 against and nine for the new EU Constitution after Hollands votes no

ExpaticaITS NINE FOR AND TWO AGAINST ON THE EU DRAFT CONSTITUTION AS HOLLAND VOTES NO TODAY

The Dutch public after the French has resoundingly rejected the EU draft Constitution by voting 63 percent against and only 37 percent in favor in the nation's high-stakes referendum. Turnout was a record 62% of the registered voters. Dutch conservative PM Jan Peter Balkenende who acknowledged the defeat said: "Let no one be mistaken. This was not a vote against European unity, but a popular reaction by the population signaling that they want to be included in the discussions about Europe." Many politicians are calling for Balkenende's resignation, who they say has lost contact with the Dutch population on a variety of issues, including his handling of the Dutch economy, his cozy relationship with the US President, the sending of Dutch troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, and his lackluster campaign on Europe. The US NBC Nightly News reporting on the vote in Holland called the outcome "the end of Europe's ambition to create a strong and united EU". However, many political analysts in Europe, see the large turnout of the voters in both France and Holland on the issue of Europe as a very positive signal towards a further strengthening of the "peoples power" in Europe and a strong EU ruled by the people for the people.