1992 French Maastricht Treaty referendum

1992 French Maastricht Treaty referendum
20 September 1992
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
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 13,162,992 51.05%
No 12,623,582 48.95%
Valid votes 25,786,574 96.59%
Invalid or blank votes 909,377 3.41%
Total votes 26,695,951 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 38,305,534 69.69%
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 of public opinion on European integration, away from the "permissive consensus" which had existed in most member states 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.

  1. ^ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p674 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  2. ^ Harmsen, Robert and Menno Spiering, eds. Euroscepticism: Party Politics, National Identity and European Integration. Amsterdam: Radopi B.V., 2004. p. 25.