THE GUARDIAN: Irish voters have rejected the Lisbon treaty, the country's justice minister conceded today, in a move which throws the entire project of reshaping the EU into turmoil.
Monitors from the Fianna Fáil party at the main count in Dublin told the Guardian that so far the breakdown in votes showed a 52% to 48% majority for the no camp.
"It looks like this will be a no vote," the justice minister, Dermot Ahern, said. "At the end of the day, for a myriad of reasons, the people have spoken.
"We will have to wait and see what happens in the rest of the countries. Obviously if we are the only one to reject the treaty that will raise questions. We are in uncharted territories."
Unofficial early polls suggested voters in most constituencies voted against the Lisbon treaty, the state broadcaster RTE reported. Official results are expected later today.
The no vote was strong in many rural areas and in working-class urban areas, while middle-class areas appeared to be less supportive of the treaty than had been anticipated, RTE said.
Reuters reported that in Dublin, the no camp was ahead in five constituencies and behind in one, while three were evenly split. Irish Voters Reject EU Treaty >>> By Henry McDonald in Dublin, James Sturcke and agencies | June 13, 2008
REUTERS:
Ireland Rejects Treaty in Blow for EU >>> June 13, 2008
BBC:
Ireland Rejects EU Reform Treaty >>> | June 13, 2008
BBC:Arrogance Indeed! UK to Press Ahead with EU Treaty >>> | June 13, 2008
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback - UK)
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Hardback - UK)
