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Mark Breddy: Less than six months ago, polls suggested 'yes' votes would achieve 75 percent. The circumstances are now somewhat different. Are you happy with the referendum result?
Nicolas Schmit: You said it, given the circumstances, it was a good result. There has certainly been some influence from the outside. So I think in terms of the European environment the result is quite satisfactory.
Mark Breddy: The traditionally Industrial areas in south-eastern Luxembourg went against the trend and voted against the constitution. Do you have an explanation for this?
Nicolas Schmit: There are certainly various explanations for this. First, there might be a historical explanation, because traditionally this area has been more reluctant to follow indications or orientations from the capital. Even if you look at previous referenda (we haven't had many), at least the last two, there was also a difference between the vote in this area (and the vote in other areas).
The second explanation is perhaps more important and is related to the social and economic situation in that area. It's the old industrial basin of Luxembourg and it's an area which is going through some long term restructuring, because of the situation in the steel industry. It's also an area where problems like unemployment are more critical than in other parts of Luxembourg. So there is a structural change occurring in this region which is not yet finished. The question of the social dimension and the issue of liberal policies are more sensitive and are more felt in this area than perhaps in other parts of Luxembourg.
Mark Breddy: What do you think will happen to the European Constitution and the ratification process after the Luxembourg referendum result?
Nicolas Schmit: Well, I think, as I've said before, the ratification process was never stopped. Other countries approved the constitution by parliamentary ratification (Cyprus and Malta) just before Luxembourg. Luxembourg is the 13th country to approve the constitution. Parliament has to finalise the approval, but the road is open for that. There is a majority of Member States who have approved it now, so I think some other countries will follow. Belgium is about to finish the ratification process, so we will be 14 and there might be one or two other countries which have already started the process. I think the process will go on in those countries where a referendum has been scheduled. After that, the process will probably resume sometime next year. I consider that the process has certainly been consolidated by the Luxembourg vote and will continue.
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