1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites

Finnish Social Democrats Against Referendum

August 27, 2004

The party has came out against a public vote on the European Constitution, but still called for public debate before the parliament votes on the issue.

The Finnish Social Democratic Party (SDP) has announced it is not in favor of a referendum on the European Constitution, which makes it very unlikely that the Nordic country will follow the ten other member states which have already decided to hold a referendum. The SDP, however, is calling for a public debate on the constitution before the Finnish Parliament votes on it. Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, who previously ruled out the need for a referendum, has invited representatives of the Finnish parliamentary parties to discuss the European Constitution and the way it will be processed in Finland. The meeting will be held Sept.3. Ten countries - Denmark, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Belgium, The Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal and the UK - have already said they will hold a referendum. (EUobserver.com)

Skip next section Explore more
Skip next section DW's Top Story

DW's Top Story

Skip next section More stories from DW