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Definition of "Overwhelming"

With the recent No votes in France and Holand on the European Union, the news headlines are proclaiming these are “Overwhelming”.

In France, 54.68% of voters voted No, with a turnout of 69.34%. Significantly less than half of the population (37.9%) voted No. [Wikipedia]

Later, in the Netherlands, the No vote was 61.6% on a turnout of just 62.8%. Again, significantly less than half of the population (38.6%) voted No. [BBC News]

How can this therefore be called a resounding and overwhelming victory for the No camp? Fewer than 4 in 10 people voted ‘NO’ in France and the Netherlands!

Posted: 2 June 2005, 18:57; tagged: , .


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