France's Sarkozy rules out EU treaty referendum
PARIS. February 28. KAZINFORM French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday ruled out a referendum on an EU intergovernmental treaty which would enshrine tougher budget rules, if he could secure a second mandate, according to Xinhua.
Asked by the local RTL radio about a possible public vote on the new EU fiscal treaty that has been agreed by 25 EU member states, the UMP presidential candidate said "no."
"One can perfectly imaging a referendum on Europe, on the common currency for example ... because the question would be perfectly clear: do you want to change the franc for the euro?" Sarkozy said.
"If we're dealing with a treaty with 200 articles, 250 articles, I can't see how you'd formulate a clear question," he added.
Formally entering the race to the Elysee two weeks ago, the 57-year-old conservative politician had promised to listen more to French voters by calling referendums on reforms.
"One of my key commitments ... is to give the French people its voice back via the referendum ... Each time there is a blockage, I will make the French people decide," Sarkozy said while declaring his re-election bid on Feb. 15.