Q,
I’ve been following this since the original Constitution issue, mostly through the Economist. I do occasionally skim through some other British publications. The Irish have no choice but to hold a referendum. I believe it has to do with a Constitutional requirement since they are effectively giving up some of their sovreignity. The reason that the other countries aren’t holding referendums on it is fairly straightforward. The majority of politicians i these countries are for it but are scared that their voters would reject it so they aren’t going to take the chance. Again, I have no real stake in the issue but it has been noted in several places that this is a particularly undemocratic method of passing a rather sweeping document.
Q, I’ve been following this since the original Constitution issue, mostly through the Economist. I do occasionally skim through some other British publications. The Irish have no choice but to hold a referendum. I believe it has to do with a Constitutional requirement since they are effectively giving up some of their sovreignity. The reason that the other countries aren’t holding referendums on it is fairly straightforward. The majority of politicians i these countries are for it but are scared that their voters would reject it so they aren’t going to take the chance. Again, I have no real stake in the issue but it has been noted in several places that this is a particularly undemocratic method of passing a rather sweeping document.