E.C. President does not advise Portuguese referendum in light of current crisis

December 6, 2004 

The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso, said holding a referendum on acceding to the European Constitution in Portugal is inadvisable, in light of the current political crisis in that country. 
"A political crisis is surely not the best moment to discuss the European Constitution", Barroso said to the press outside a colloquium about European Identity in Lisbon. 
The E.C. President refused to comment on the current situation in Portugal, but admitted to have been "surprised" by the Portuguese President's decision to call for new elections, ending the government's term a full year early.
E.C. President does not advise Portuguese referendum in light of current crisis December 6 , 2004 The President of the European Commission , José Manuel Durão Barroso , said holding a referendum on acceding to the European Constitution in Portugal is inadvisable , in light of the current political crisis in that country . " A political crisis is surely not the best moment to discuss the European Constitution " , Barroso said to the press outside a colloquium about European Identity in Lisbon . The E.C. President refused to comment on the current situation in Portugal , but admitted to have been " surprised " by the Portuguese President 's decision to call for new elections , ending the government 's term a full year early .
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