61.6% of the Dutch people say 'no' to EU constitution
{{date|June 1, 2005}}
[[Image:Dutch ballot box against.PNG|150px|left]]
[[Image:Netherlands referendum on European constitution.png|300px|right|Results of the referendum]]
The end result says that 61.6% of the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] people vote '''''tegen''''' (against) the [[European Constitution]], while 38.4% voted '''''voor''''' (for) the Constitution. Turnout was unexpectedly high, at 62.8%, more than the last three elections. The 'no' vote follows a similar vote in [[France]] last week that lead to the resignation of the prime minister [[Jean-Pierre Raffarin]].

As in France, both the government and the parliament was highly pro-treaty, with Dutch Prime Minister, {{w|Jan Peter Balkenende}}, pleading over the past few days with voters not to be influenced by the French 'No' vote. While the citizenship's vote is legally non-binding, Mr. Balkenende and the Dutch parliament have said they will support it.    

The major reasons for the 'no' vote appear to be worry over the rapid expansion of the EU, loss of a national identity, distrust as a result of the inflation (allegedly a result of the Euro) and a lack of democracy. Other motivations include unhappiness with the government and [[Turkey]]'s candidate accession to the European Union.

{{haveyoursay}}
==Related News==
*{{Wikinews|title=Dutch vote today on EU constitution|date=June 1, 2005}}
*{{Wikinews|title=France votes no in EU referendum|date=May 29, 2005}}
*{{Wikinews|title=Exit poll: 55% of French voters say no to EU constitution|date=May 29, 2005}}
== Sister links ==
{{sisters
|Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe
|Dutch referendum on the European Constitution
}}__NOTOC__
==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4601439.stm| title= Dutch say 'No' to EU constitution | author= |pub=BBC News|date=June 1, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0601/euconstitution.html| title=Dutch voters reject EU Constitution | author= |pub=RTE News|date=June 1, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5045624,00.html| title=     Dutch Voters Reject EU Constitution | author= |pub=The Guardian|date=June 1, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2005/06/01/afx2071126.html
|title=DUTCH EU VOTE - PM 'disappointed' at no-vote but will respect outcome
|author=AFX News Limited
|pub=Forbes.com
|date=June 1, 2005}}

==External links==

*[http://europa.eu/index_en.htm Gateway to the European Union]  - Official EU website
*[http://www.euabc.com/?page_id=207&s=04e646c43d22fc06342fa5c04849d50b Reader-friendly edition of the EU Constitution] &mdash; Highlights and commentary (PDFs).
*[http://www.yes-campaign.net/ European Yes Campaign] - Official website
*[http://www.europeannocampaign.com/ European No Campaign] - Official website

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[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Netherlands]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:European Union]]
[[Category:Jean-Pierre Raffarin]]
[[Category:Constitution for Europe]]

[[es:Holanda también rechaza la Constitución Europea]]
[[fr:Les électeurs néerlandais disent à leur tour « non » à la Constitution européenne]]
[[it:I dutch dicono "nee" alla costituzione europea]]
[[pl:Holendrzy nie zaakceptowali konstytucji Unii Europejskiej]]
[[pt:Países Baixos também dizem não à Constituição Européia]]
left
Results of the referendum
The end result says that 61.6% of the Dutch people vote 'tegen' (against) the European Constitution, while 38.4% voted 'voor' (for) the Constitution. Turnout was unexpectedly high, at 62.8%, more than the last three elections. The 'no' vote follows a similar vote in France last week that lead to the resignation of the prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.

As in France, both the government and the parliament was highly pro-treaty, with Dutch Prime Minister, , pleading over the past few days with voters not to be influenced by the French 'No' vote. While the citizenship's vote is legally non-binding, Mr. Balkenende and the Dutch parliament have said they will support it.    

The major reasons for the 'no' vote appear to be worry over the rapid expansion of the EU, loss of a national identity, distrust as a result of the inflation (allegedly a result of the Euro) and a lack of democracy. Other motivations include unhappiness with the government and Turkey's candidate accession to the European Union.

es:Holanda también rechaza la Constitución Europea
fr:Les électeurs néerlandais disent à leur tour « non » à la Constitution européenne
it:I dutch dicono "nee" alla costituzione europea
pl:Holendrzy nie zaakceptowali konstytucji Unii Europejskiej
Países Baixos também dizem não à Constituição Européia
Europe Netherlands Politics and conflicts European Union Jean-Pierre Raffarin Constitution for Europe