French election result is victory for democratic values, say representatives of European institutions
Brussels 6/5/02 , by Eva Blässar

The outcome of the presidential election in France yesterday, giving Jacques Chirac an overwhelming 82-18 percent victory over Jean-Marie Le Pen, has caused positive reactions throughout Europe. The general conclusion is that Chirac's victory over far right-wing candidate Le Pen is also a victory for democratic values.

However, for the speakers of French regional or minority languages, Chirac's victory still means no change to the current wording of the French Constitution, declaring that French is the language of the Republic. In response to a recent questionnaire, Jacques Chirac stated that he is in favour of regional languages, but he made it clear that he is not prepared to neither change the Constitution, nor to ratify the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

'Everybody says that they are in favour of regional languages - even the extremists - because they can’t say that they’re against them. But in reality they are,' minority representatives commented to Eurolang after the first round of the presidential elections two weeks ago.

A coordinated group of over twenty regional and minority language organisations in France, 'Freedom, Equality for our Languages', has however declared a firm intention to pursue their work aimed at changing the Constitution and ratifying the Charter.

Although suggestions that Chirac's victory was not purely a vote for him, but rather a vote against Le Pen and the values he represents, the comments throughout Europe have been positive.

The Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer said that the French election result is a victory for European values.

'This massive vote in favour of Jacques Chirac is a victory for the French people, which reconfirms their faith in the values of democracy and human rights,' Schwimmer stated. He added that it was also a victory for a Europe which upheld those values – the same which the Council of Europe defends every day throughout the continent.

The European Parliament President Pat Cox commented that the election outcome was a 'victory for rationality over intolerance.' Cox added that it was not only a personal victory for Chirac, but also the victory of the principles and values of the European Union.

'The French population showed once more that their nation is in the heart of Europe and that they also want to stay there,' said the President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi.

Jacques Chirac himself stressed the country's traditional ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity in his victory speech, saying he would be a president for all French people. (EL)


www.eurolang.net