France: ‘Where’s the democracy in that?’

In 2005 the French government ignored the results of a referendum on the EU, but at what cost to democracy?

The films in this series are available with the following subtitles; English, French, German, Swedish, Spanish and Polish

EUROPEANS: original dramas from across Europe
The Guardian and Headlong theatre company present a foreign language drama series about the continent, from the continent. Europeans features films made in Germany, France, UK, Ireland, Poland, Sweden and Spain, exploring the relationships of member countries to the European Union

Performed by Sabrina Ouazani
Written by Alice Zeniter
Directed by Amy Hodge
Produced by Jess Gormley
Filmed and edited by Noah Payne-Frank
Producer for Headlong: Alecia Marshall
Assistant producer: Tilly Taylor
Executive producers for the Guardian: Jess Gormley, Charlie Phillips
Executive producers for Headlong: Jeremy Herrin, Alan Stacey, Holly Race Roughan

The Guardian YouTube network:

[jak_k]

A bit rich of the Guardian to publicize this when it was against the Brexit referendum.

[kracker]

In 2016 Britain's referendum was ignored, especially by the Guardian !

[TVComercialProducer]

Not to be disrespectful but she´s a little melodramatic, couldnt watch for more than a third.

[chiantelalo]

The piece could be interesting, but the actor is definitely overacting and is quite a bit hammy to be honest. Dommage.

[Phoenix_cataclysm_in_]

Last time Europe was a bunch of independent countries they were fighting each other and killing millions in a most inhumane way imaginable, and for no darn reason.

Count your blessings. EU is definitely not a final product, it's a project in development. Many things have to be done, but you have peace and stability, and prosperity for most people. Don't swap it for the situation where countries start gearing up to start killing each other's citizens, just because they have otherwise solvable disagreements.

[VoreiosPolakis]

In the last few years the Guardian has discussed and entertained and even endorsed - through the writings of some of his commentators - the possibility of revoking the results of the Brexit referendum, though.

[terminator]

Is not important how you vote, important is who is counting !

[definitelynotadam]

"performed by" if this is what this series is about, no thanks.

[davetdowell]

2:21 She's right people did die for your right to vote, quite a lot of the British. If you want to know their names you could visit one of the many cemeteries that are all over your country, where they are buried.

[Rossenbg]

Hiring actors to do political statements is not fooling anyone. Shame on you!

[montue]

since the beginning of times Commerce has brought unparalleled prosperity and EU was essentially that .An institution built for mutual benefit that was slowly built upon to reach the EU that it is today. Economic liberalism has been a corner stone of every prosperous country.She dismisses the complexity of the issue but that is exactly why we have deliberative representative democracy, because no one has the time to study it in such a detail nor the knowledge to understand it's implications.If you fail to exercise your political rights one day you face it's consequences until then feel free to pretend to be a revolutionary.The woman's mother seems like a wise woman

[hcl]

Quand la France redeviendra-t-elle une démocratie ?

[sm]

What the hell is this? I didn't understood anything!

[YuureiInu]

First time I voted in presidential elections my guy got less than 0.1% of votes. That was the last time I voted.

[davejohnson]

Is this why the Guardian is begging for money? To make fantastic master pieces like this? Lol.

[matteocasula]

Dear all, democracy is important. However I want to keep in mind two things. First, the people are not always right. Have you ever come across to some decision to be made collegially and believed the majority really voted for the wrong and evident decision? That is because the majority is NOT ALWAYS RIGHT. Secondly, I believe the EU as a federation should not be questioned. What should be questioned is the organization we want to give to the EU. In conclusion, if in any given referendum the peole votes no to be part of the EU either said people gets out of the EU or its will is not taken into account. For the sake of the unity of the continent, I prefer the latter even though it would stretch thin the fabric of our own society and politics. However my thought is still evolving, so who knows.

[ditskared]

Well it is right in a sense. Our vote does become useless plenty of times. Not going to vote even by a great percent does not give a better result either. Before i vote i usually find that none of the choices before me satisfy or represent me, /my rights/my views/my visions. It's life and all you can do is take responsibility and choose the lesser evil in your mind. Not voting gives more power to those who do. Infurating! Vote even if it is one raindrop. It is your choise where it lands!

[ZenosOsgorma]

Lol what a horrid intro, a poster with Yes on it... Europe's been sold a lie.

[cb]

I think the series is a great idea as there is still too much distance between EU operations and the public's perception (mine included) of its activities. That said, why the smoking and melodramatic tone?? I found it a bit hard to watch the whole thing. That's a pity because I'm French and interested in hearing more about those events

[chrisf]

Europe ? Blimey, is that still a thing ?