The very reason that led a majority of the French to say “no” to the referendum on the European Union’s draft Constitutional Treaty in May 2005 may lead them to vote for Bayrou, the most pro-European of all candidates.

2005年5月大部分法国人在全民公决中否决欧盟宪法草案的原因可能致使他们把票投给在所有候选人中最为亲欧洲的贝鲁。

© Project Syndicate 1995 – 2011

http://www.project-syndicate.org/ 29.10.2010

© Project Syndicate 1995 – 2011

http://www.project-syndicate.org/ 29.10.2010

But the germ of such a debate exists, and it sounds very different from that which dominated the failed constitutional referendum campaign in France two years ago.

但是这一辩论的潜质依旧存在，而且，它与两年前主导法国有关欧盟宪法全民公决的竞选大相径庭。

© Project Syndicate 1995 – 2011

http://www.project-syndicate.org/ 28.10.2010

© Project Syndicate 1995 – 2011

http://www.project-syndicate.org/ 28.10.2010

In April 1998, the new Constitution was adopted by the National Assembly and subsequently endorsed by a referendum.

1998年4月，国民议会通过新宪法，随后经公民投 票核可了该宪法。

© 2000-2011年版权

http://www.un.org/ 02.02.2011

© United Nations 2010

http://www.un.org/ 02.02.2011

He is currently advocating a referendum on whether Taiwan should join the United Nations, which China views as provocative and a threat to China’s unity.

他目前正在鼓吹就台湾是否应该加入联合国举行全民公决，而中国则把这一事态视为挑衅以及对中国统一的威胁。

© Project Syndicate 1995 – 2011

http://www.project-syndicate.org/ 26.01.2011

© Project Syndicate 1995 – 2011

http://www.project-syndicate.org/ 26.01.2011

These leaders are less concerned with the reform agenda than with promoting patriotism among Japanese youth, upgrading the Defense Agency to a ministry, and enacting a law to permit a referendum to revise the pacifist constitution.

与改革计划相比，这些领导人更关心如何在日本青年中宣传爱国主义、如何将国防机构升级为国防部、以及如何制定法律允许公民投票修改和平主义宪法。

© Project Syndicate 1995 – 2011

http://www.project-syndicate.org/ 23.12.2010

© Project Syndicate 1995 – 2011

http://www.project-syndicate.org/ 23.12.2010

But two steep hurdles still need to be overcome: the intergovernmental conference and ratification through the national parliaments or by means of a referendum in all member states.

但是，还是有两大障碍需要跨越，那就是政府间会议以及在全体成员国内通过议会或者全民公决予以批准。

© Project Syndicate 1995 – 2011

http://www.project-syndicate.org/ 23.12.2010

© Project Syndicate 1995 – 2011

http://www.project-syndicate.org/ 23.12.2010

Recently, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told a news conference that “we think that Taiwan’s referendum to apply to the UN under the name ‘Taiwan’ is a provocative policy.

最近，美国国务卿莱斯在一个记者会上说，“我们认为台湾的入联公投是一项挑衅性的政策。

© Project Syndicate 1995 – 2011

http://www.project-syndicate.org/ 23.01.2011

© Project Syndicate 1995 – 2011

http://www.project-syndicate.org/ 23.01.2011