PARIS, May 29: France overwhelmingly rejected the European Union’s constitution in a referendum on Sunday, pollsters’ projections showed, plunging the EU into crisis and dealing a possibly fatal blow to a pact designed to make it run smoothly. The heavy defeat dreaded by EU leaders could weaken France in the 25-member bloc, stall European integration and unsettle some financial markets. It also wounds President Jacques Chirac two years before presidential and parliamentary elections.

Projections by three polling groups based on partial results from the referendum suggested around 55 per cent of voters had opposed the EU’s first constitution, designed to simplify decision-making following the Union’s enlargement last year. Such a heavy defeat in a country that has long been one of the main pillars of the EU reduces the chances of a repeat vote, which French leaders had ruled out anyway before the referendum.

Many voters wanted to punish Mr Chirac and his conservative government over unemployment that is at a five-year high of 10.2 per cent and other economic problems. Other critics were angry at what they saw as France’s declining role in the Union.

“I voted ‘No’ in all conscience, having read the text, due to the lack of will to solve Europe’s number one problem today, which is unemployment,” said Armel Bompart, 52, a civil servant in Strasbourg, home to the European parliament. Two-thirds of voters had cast ballots three hours before the last polling stations closed, the interior ministry said.

Mr Chirac, 72, said before the vote he would not quit even though opinion polls showed his gamble on a referendum rather than a safe ratification vote in parliament was likely to fail. —Reuters