Text 12989, 108 rader
Skriven 2005-05-27 18:17:00 av Jeff Binkley (1:226/600)
Ärende: EU
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I have been predicting problems for the EU for quite some time...

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2005/05/27/AR2005052700381_pf.html

'No' Camp Holds Lead Ahead of French EU Treaty Vote
Germany's Upper House Approved Treaty Friday

By Paul Carrel
Reuters
Friday, May 27, 2005; 5:45 PM



PARIS (Reuters) - The leaders of Germany and Spain made final pleas to 
French voters on Friday to back the European Union's constitution, 
seeking to reverse the "No" camp's lead in opinion polls on the last day 
of campaigning.

One survey showed a sharp drop in the size of the majority opposing the 
treaty, giving its supporters some hope before Sunday's French 
referendum. The lone poll could be a lifeline for the "Yes" camp, led by 
President Jacques Chirac.

Supporters say rejection would kill the constitution and weaken France 
in Europe. Opponents say a "No" would force the EU to redraft the treaty 
and improve it.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder Schroeder made an impassioned plea 
to French voters to back the charter.

"We ask the French people to vote 'Yes' with all their hearts," he told 
a rally in the southwestern city of Toulouse. Germany's upper house of 
parliament's approved the constitution earlier on Friday.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero French urged voters 
not to use the referendum to vent their discontent with Chirac's 
conservative government, which is unpopular because of its cost-cutting 
reforms and high unemployment.

"The elections -- they last four or five years in France, but a 
constitution is for a whole generation. It's a whole life plan for 
millions and millions of Europeans," Zapatero, a Socialist, told a rally 
in the northern city of Lille.

A poll by Ifop research group showed the "No" camp far ahead on 56 
percent support. But a survey by CSA polling group showed 52 percent of 
voters who have decided how to vote will oppose the charter, a drop of 3 
percentage points since Thursday.

The CSA poll put supporters of the treaty on 48 percent, a figure that 
rose to 49 percent among voters questioned on Friday -- one day after 
Chirac made a final televised plea to voters to back the constitution.

Backers of the treaty were also lifted by an appeal from Italian Prime 
Minister Silvio Berlusconi for voters to support the charter. The 
architect of the text, former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing, 
said he hoped for a "Yes" vote.

DUTCH "YES" CAMP ALSO GAINS

An opinion poll showed opposition to the constitution also falling among 
Dutch voters to 52 percent from 54 percent a week earlier. The 
Netherlands votes in a referendum next Wednesday.

First estimates of the French vote will come after polling stations 
close in big cities at 10 p.m. (2000 GMT).

The constitution is intended to make the EU work more smoothly following 
its enlargement last year and requires the backing of all 25 member 
states to go into force.

Supporters say the constitution will help make Europe and France 
stronger. Opponents say it enshrines economic policies that have failed 
to stop the loss of jobs to low-wage economies, including to countries 
outside the European Union such as China.

"If the 'No' wins, there will be not only a European crisis ... but also 
an enormous political upheaval in France," said Christophe Barbier, 
deputy editor of L'Express magazine.

"All the leaders of the large parties will be discredited and we will 
enter a period of uncertainty which will be twilight time for Jacques 
Chirac and a jungle for all the parties trying to survive," he told 
Europe 1 radio.

A pledge by Chirac on Thursday to seek a new political impetus if the 
charter is rejected was dismissed by the treaty's critics.

"We've been hearing that from Chirac for the past 10 years," Laurent 
Fabius, the leading Socialist opposing the treaty, told France 3 
television.

Chirac's comment was seen as a hint that he could fire Prime Minister 
Jean-Pierre Raffarin.

Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin and Nicolas Sarkozy, ambitious 
head of Chirac's conservative Union for a Popular Movement party, are 
the frontrunners to replace Raffarin if he is sacked.

(Additional reporting by Nicolas Fichot in Toulouse and Laure Bretton in 
Lille)


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