1992 French Maastricht Treaty referendum
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Do you approve of the bill submitted to the French people by the President of the Republic authorizing the ratification of the Treaty on the European Union | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Results | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Results by département Yes: Over 60% 55 to 60% 50 to 55% No: Over 55% 50 to 55% |
A referendum on the Maastricht Treaty for the founding of the European Union was held in France on 20 September 1992.[1] It was approved by 51% of the voters. The result of the referendum, known as the "petit oui", along with the Danish "No" vote (50,7%) are considered to be signals of a transition into another stadium of European integration, away from the "permissive consensus" which had existed in most memberstates until then. From this point forward issues relating to European integration were subject to more intensive discussions across much of Europe, and later overt euroscepticism gained prominence.[2] Only France, Ireland and Denmark held referendums on the Maastricht Treaty ratification.
Parties' stances
The center-left Socialist party (PS), then in power, as well as the center-right Union for French Democracy (UDF) campaigned in favor of the treaty. Jacques Chirac, then Mayor of Paris and leader of the Gaullist RPR party, also took a pro-European stance, partly in the hopes to boost his chances for the next Presidential election.
On the other side, the
The Trotskytes from Lutte Ouvrière called for an abstention.
Support:
- Socialist party (PS)
- Union for French Democracy (UDF)
Opponents:
- left-wing:
- right-wing:
- major figures in the Gaullist Rally for the Republic (RPR) including Philippe Séguin and Charles Pasqua (but not leader Jacques Chirac, and the then-lesser known Nicolas Sarkozy and François Fillon)
- Philippe de Villiers
- National Front
Abstain:
- Workers' Struggle (LO) (Arlette Laguillerwas quoted as saying "A 'no' vote is a vote for Le Pen")
Those who opposed the ratification also included demographer
Campaign
The introduction of a
The sovereignist campaign gained an unexpected momentum, beating the 'yes' vote in some polls.
Philippe Séguin and President François Mitterrand famously faced off in a passionate but nevertheless respectful television debate, also remembered for the fact that Mitterrand was in the midst of a cancer treatment, something hidden from the public at the time.
Results
Choice | Metropolitan France | Total | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Votes | % | ||
For | 12,957,324 | 50.8 | 13,162,992 | 51.0 | |
Against | 12,542,635 | 49.2 | 12,623,582 | 49.0 | |
Invalid/blank votes | 880,783 | – | 909,377 | – | |
Total | 26,380,742 | 100 | 26,695,951 | 100 | |
Registered voters/turnout | 37,087,104 | 71.1 | 38,305,534 | 69.7 | |
Source: Nohlen & Stöver |
By department
Region | For | Against | Electorate | Votes | Valid votes | Invalid votes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Paris | 461,435 | 276,684 | 1,104,904 | 752,945 | 738,119 | 14,826 | ||
Seine-et-Marne | 215,408 | 225,813 | 639,006 | 452,808 | 441,221 | 11,587 | ||
Yvelines | 321,932 | 239,186 | 784,033 | 573,159 | 561,118 | 12,041 | ||
Essonne | 248,708 | 207,831 | 646,038 | 468,088 | 456,539 | 11,549 | ||
Hauts-de-Seine | 305,862 | 233,911 | 786,433 | 551,610 | 539,773 | 11,837 | ||
Seine-Saint-Denis | 195,190 | 232,288 | 668,049 | 438,695 | 427,478 | 11,217 | ||
Val-de Marne | 232,655 | 221,938 | 669,725 | 465,636 | 454,593 | 11,043 | ||
Val-de Oise | 205,522 | 193,243 | 578,196 | 408,431 | 398,765 | 9,666 | ||
Ardennes | 63,221 | 64,825 | 190,636 | 132,190 | 128,046 | 4,144 | ||
Aube | 57,009 | 72,340 | 187,946 | 133,700 | 129,349 | 4,351 | ||
Marne | 117,001 | 111,766 | 354,255 | 235,534 | 228,767 | 6,767 | ||
Haute-Marne | 46,968 | 51,310 | 145,827 | 101,890 | 98,278 | 3,612 | ||
Aisne | 112,218 | 146,948 | 366,176 | 267,327 | 259,166 | 8,161 | ||
Oise | 147,359 | 185,988 | 460,412 | 342,826 | 333,347 | 9,479 | ||
Somme | 114,959 | 165,007 | 382,372 | 289,143 | 279,966 | 9,177 | ||
Eure | 105,984 | 139,016 | 340,222 | 252,271 | 245,000 | 7,271 | ||
Seine-Maritime | 255,606 | 304,597 | 804,903 | 579,069 | 560,203 | 18,866 | ||
Cher | 66,327 | 87,160 | 224,543 | 159,793 | 153,487 | 6,306 | ||
Eure-et-Loir | 84,982 | 101,161 | 260,179 | 192,238 | 186,143 | 6,095 | ||
Indre | 55,318 | 69,968 | 178,558 | 131,592 | 125,286 | 6,306 | ||
Indre-et-Loire | 118,876 | 127,497 | 352,403 | 255,339 | 246,373 | 8,966 | ||
Loir-et-Cher | 71,879 | 86,902 | 219,506 | 165,362 | 158,781 | 6,581 | ||
Loiret | 127,627 | 141,132 | 372,594 | 278,387 | 268,759 | 9,628 | ||
Calvados | 146,454 | 146,938 | 420,624 | 301,987 | 293,392 | 8,595 | ||
Manche | 114,956 | 125,606 | 340,972 | 248,699 | 240,562 | 8,137 | ||
Orne | 72,445 | 77,249 | 209,401 | 155,201 | 149,694 | 5,507 | ||
Côte-d'Or | 104,510 | 110,492 | 313,432 | 221,372 | 215,002 | 6,370 | ||
Nièvre | 58,524 | 60,671 | 173,634 | 123,760 | 119,195 | 4,565 | ||
Saône-et-Loire | 128,134 | 124,614 | 391,991 | 264,890 | 252,748 | 12,142 | ||
Yonne | 70,524 | 84,992 | 221,876 | 160,563 | 155,516 | 5,047 | ||
Nord | 519,195 | 613,949 | 1,640,563 | 1,175,412 | 1,133,144 | 42,268 | ||
Pas-de-Calais | 296,221 | 411,838 | 998,937 | 737,659 | 708,059 | 29,600 | ||
Meurthe-et-Moselle | 167,761 | 138,331 | 463,533 | 315,383 | 306,092 | 9,291 | ||
Meuse | 50,983 | 44,940 | 139,529 | 99,341 | 95,923 | 3,418 | ||
Moselle | 254,719 | 191,014 | 679,500 | 460,121 | 445,733 | 14,388 | ||
Vosges | 90,450 | 97,799 | 274,683 | 196,843 | 188,249 | 8,594 | ||
Bas-Rhin | 290,786 | 133,148 | 624,637 | 437,305 | 423,934 | 13,371 | ||
Haut-Rhin | 186,958 | 117,603 | 443,172 | 314,621 | 304,561 | 10,060 | ||
Doubs | 115,991 | 102,579 | 311,004 | 225,642 | 218,570 | 7,072 | ||
Jura | 63,242 | 58,483 | 173,072 | 126,614 | 121,725 | 4,889 | ||
Haute-Saône | 53,469 | 63,796 | 166,854 | 122,218 | 117,265 | 4,953 | ||
Territoire de Belfort | 26,966 | 31,391 | 85,552 | 60,615 | 58,357 | 2,258 | ||
Loire-Atlantique | 281,704 | 214,036 | 725,314 | 513,628 | 495,740 | 17,888 | ||
Maine-et-Loire | 182,420 | 144,934 | 472,178 | 343,259 | 327,354 | 15,905 | ||
Mayenne | 74,138 | 66,651 | 200,733 | 148,817 | 140,789 | 8,028 | ||
Sarthe | 122,176 | 126,247 | 367,876 | 260,195 | 248,423 | 11,772 | ||
Vendée | 133,497 | 135,099 | 377,547 | 282,340 | 268,596 | 13,744 | ||
Côtes-d'Armor | 176,140 | 116,467 | 414,780 | 304,556 | 292,607 | 11,949 | ||
Finistère | 254,910 | 173,951 | 615,753 | 442,893 | 428,861 | 14,032 | ||
Ille-et-Vilaine | 237,588 | 140,987 | 552,921 | 394,185 | 378,575 | 15,610 | ||
Morbihan | 179,253 | 137,045 | 453,406 | 329,455 | 316,298 | 13,157 | ||
Charente | 85,714 | 85,698 | 249,912 | 178,676 | 171,412 | 7,264 | ||
Charente Maritime | 125,376 | 133,445 | 381,953 | 267,897 | 258,821 | 9,076 | ||
Deux-Sèvres | 92,780 | 81,924 | 253,269 | 183,983 | 174,704 | 9,279 | ||
Vienne | 94,987 | 94,561 | 271,606 | 198,334 | 189,548 | 8,786 | ||
Dordogne | 94,168 | 124,708 | 301,258 | 228,258 | 218,876 | 9,382 | ||
Gironde | 270,255 | 280,025 | 782,205 | 565,450 | 550,280 | 15,170 | ||
Landes | 89,763 | 78,226 | 237,683 | 174,798 | 167,989 | 6,809 | ||
Lot-et-Garonne | 73,673 | 84,910 | 222,311 | 165,231 | 158,583 | 6,648 | ||
Pyrénées-Atlantiques | 153,841 | 134,141 | 419,228 | 298,343 | 287,982 | 10,361 | ||
Ariège | 37,057 | 36,583 | 107,131 | 76,649 | 73,640 | 3,009 | ||
Aveyron | 82,594 | 64,738 | 212,082 | 156,762 | 147,332 | 9,430 | ||
Haute-Garonne | 227,375 | 195,238 | 609,195 | 437,702 | 422,613 | 15,089 | ||
Gers | 47,857 | 48,630 | 136,741 | 100,931 | 96,487 | 4,444 | ||
Lot | 46,309 | 41,780 | 122,197 | 92,554 | 88,089 | 4,465 | ||
Hautes-Pyrénées | 60,651 | 57,431 | 171,127 | 122,529 | 118,082 | 4,447 | ||
Tarn | 87,319 | 91,835 | 253,595 | 189,039 | 179,154 | 9,885 | ||
Tarn-et-Garonne | 47,490 | 59,056 | 147,460 | 111,219 | 106,546 | 4,673 | ||
Corrèze | 59,893 | 70,930 | 183,878 | 136,655 | 130,823 | 5,832 | ||
Creuse | 30,272 | 39,606 | 107,930 | 73,213 | 69,878 | 3,335 | ||
Haute-Vienne | 87,879 | 93,437 | 259,854 | 191,315 | 181,316 | 9,999 | ||
Ain | 108,769 | 89,417 | 293,087 | 205,091 | 198,186 | 6,905 | ||
Ardèche | 71,622 | 68,900 | 205,086 | 146,872 | 140,522 | 6,350 | ||
Drôme | 95,209 | 96,973 | 280,400 | 199,622 | 192,182 | 7,440 | ||
Isère | 237,376 | 189,228 | 632,403 | 440,404 | 426,604 | 13,800 | ||
Loire | 159,246 | 145,757 | 474,077 | 318,052 | 305,003 | 13,049 | ||
Rhône | 325,360 | 256,619 | 859,959 | 598,577 | 581,979 | 16,598 | ||
Savoie | 85,503 | 71,910 | 236,577 | 162,260 | 157,413 | 4,847 | ||
Haute-Savoie | 138,902 | 104,586 | 353,759 | 250,223 | 243,488 | 6,735 | ||
Allier | 77,929 | 98,200 | 261,895 | 184,234 | 176,129 | 8,105 | ||
Cantal | 37,632 | 44,369 | 125,253 | 85,453 | 82,001 | 3,452 | ||
Haute-Loire | 56,454 | 49,042 | 157,437 | 112,172 | 105,496 | 6,676 | ||
Puy-de-Dôme | 141,917 | 130,477 | 402,955 | 284,781 | 272,394 | 12,387 | ||
Aude | 72,418 | 83,233 | 220,278 | 160,959 | 155,651 | 5,308 | ||
Gard | 124,902 | 153,751 | 398,507 | 287,721 | 278,653 | 9,068 | ||
Hérault | 174,771 | 195,013 | 535,358 | 380,512 | 369,784 | 10,728 | ||
Lozère | 21,495 | 18,082 | 56,782 | 41,400 | 39,577 | 1,823 | ||
Pyrénées-Orientales | 77,683 | 94,071 | 259,333 | 176,935 | 171,754 | 5,181 | ||
Alpes-de Haute-Provence | 33,718 | 35,956 | 99,506 | 72,360 | 69,674 | 2,686 | ||
Haute Alpes | 30,622 | 26,211 | 84,354 | 59,166 | 56,833 | 2,333 | ||
Alpes-Maritimes | 192,495 | 229,531 | 655,429 | 430,516 | 422,026 | 8,490 | ||
Bouches-du-Rôhne | 320,831 | 397,387 | 1,072,354 | 735,772 | 718,218 | 17,554 | ||
Var | 161,893 | 219,722 | 560,396 | 390,252 | 381,615 | 8,637 | ||
Vaucluse | 94,871 | 124,907 | 309,337 | 226,725 | 219,778 | 6,947 | ||
Corse-du-Sud | 16,825 | 21,568 | 71,011 | 39,183 | 38,393 | 790 | ||
Haute-Corse | 19,925 | 26,397 | 86,185 | 47,469 | 46,322 | 1,147 | ||
Guadeloupe | 21,630 | 10,435 | 225,416 | 37,556 | 32,065 | 5,491 | ||
Martinique | 30,709 | 11,865 | 227,013 | 55,471 | 42,574 | 12,897 | ||
French Guiana | 3,901 | 1,890 | 33,928 | 6,368 | 5,791 | 577 | ||
Réunion | 61,609 | 21,380 | 322,466 | 88,482 | 82,989 | 5,493 | ||
Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 215 | 120 | 4,197 | 402 | 335 | 67 | ||
Mayotte | 1,173 | 362 | 28,246 | 1,618 | 1,535 | 83 | ||
Wallis and Futuna | 2,924 | 896 | 7,058 | 3,839 | 3,820 | 19 | ||
French Polynesia | 14,879 | 6,252 | 106,724 | 22,594 | 21,131 | 1,463 | ||
New Caledonia | 14,783 | 14,966 | 92,619 | 31,247 | 29,749 | 1,498 | ||
Source: European Election Database Archived 24 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine |
References
- ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
- ^ Harmsen, Robert and Menno Spiering, eds. Euroscepticism: Party Politics, National Identity and European Integration. Amsterdam: Radopi B.V., 2004. p. 25.