THE HAGUE, 17/06/08 - A majority of the Dutch is against the Treaty of Lisbon, according to a poll by Maurice de Hond. But the Netherlands is going ahead with its ratification.

If the Netherlands were to hold a referendum now on the new EU treaty, 54 percent would vote against it, De Hond reported. He polled the views of the Dutch after the Irish rejected the treaty last week.

A majority (56 percent) wants the Netherlands to also hold a referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon. It is an adaptation of the European Constitution, on which a referendum was held in the Netherlands in 2005 - which rejected it by 62 to 38 percent.

As well as among Christian democratic (CDA) and leftwing Green (GroenLinks) supporters, there is a majority in all other parties in favour of a referendum. In such a referendum, only a majority of the CDA, GroenLinks and Labour (PvdA) supporters would vote 'yes.'

But there will be no referendum. The Netherlands is going ahead with the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon, even though the Irish have rejected it, said Premier Jan Peter Balkenende.

The Lower House already adopted the treaty on 5 June. The Upper House wants to complete the debate on 8 July.

The Socialist Party (SP) wants the government to halt the ratification process immediately. Small Christian party SGP also considers the Irish 'no' must be taken seriously.