There are interesting parallels between the EU referenda and ours in
1999. It is clear from the vote in France and the Netherlands that
while the elites strongly supported the EU constitution, the rank and
file, for example, those in la france profonde, just as strongly
opposed it. But just as in Australia, the more obstinate and less
realistic among the elites just will not accept the people’s decision.
They are still trying to work out how to go behind the people’s
decision – just look at the NSW politicians. Just as a well known
Canadian, a retired politician, Edward McWhinney recently suggested the
politicians turn Canada into a republic without even bothering with a
constitutional amendment! He argues the Supreme Court would block
any attempt to correct this deceit and to make the politicians behave
constitutionally!

But to return to the EU, most member countries do not even need a
referendum to wind up their countries as sovereign independent states!
Full marks again to our Founders who made sure the elites could not
make the decision for us. Some in the EU leadership sensibly understand
that the game is up – the people did not see any good reason to be
swallowed up in a vast new federation to be run by the Eurocrats.
Stephen Byers, former minister and close friend says it would be a
grave mistake to ignore or try to explain away this expression of
popular feeling. Former Labour leader, Lord Kinnock (the British Labour
Party has no infantile qualms about titles) says referendums produce
results and results have to be lived with. Both of course know that a
UK referendum is now out of the question. Anyway, it was lost the
moment it was announced. As would a british referendum to replace the
Pound Sterling with the funny money Euro.

The current President of the EU Council, and Luxembourg PM, Jean-Claude
Juncker, reminded me of a comment made recently by Paul Keating. He
says France and the Netherlands should re-run their referendums in
order, believe it or not, in order to obtain the right answer!
Obviously he is like our own republicans, especially Paul Keating , who
is still talking about the wrong question. There is one difference
between the reporting of the EU referenda and ours in 1999. Almost all
the European media says the EU No vote was “overwhelming” or words to
that effect. One report described it as “huge” Not so the Australian
vote in 1999. I was looking at a Canadian site recently. Reflecting the
Australian media’s republican bias, from which the description no doubt
came, the Australian result was described as “close”. Close? All states
and 72% of electorates is , in political terms, a landslide.