Worries of the yes-side about the Constitution

13.04
Cohn-Bendit: “If you say 'no' Bush will thank you.”

Le Monde reports a meeting in Strasbourg on Monday evening on the EU Constitution in which the leader of the Greens in the European Parliament, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, said the Constitution “allows the creation of the political Europe that the French rejected in 1954, it allows the possibility of creating a common defence, and it states that there are times where it is necessary to be able to intervene militarily. If you say ‘no’, Bush will thank you.”

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17.03
Chirac hopes to “silence” Commission over Bolkestein.

French President Jacques Chirac has called for the European Commission to “completely” review the directive on the liberalisation of services, which is threatening the ‘yes’ campaign on the EU Constitution in France. He has said the directive is “unacceptable”, because of the perceived risks of social dumping.

Le Monde reports that Chirac is hoping to “silence” European Commissioners such as Neelie Kroes and Danuta Hübner who are saying things which provoke reactions in France.

Le Figaro reports that although Commission President Barroso will not abandon the controversial ‘country of origin’ principle, Green MEP Daniel Cohn-Bendit said yesterday that the EU Constitution would make it easier to “fight” against plans like the Bolkestein Directive.

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14.03
French Greens ban ‘no’ campaigners.

Le Monde reports that the French Green party has banned all of its members from participating in a “public expression” for a ‘no’ vote in the referendum on the EU Constitution. Meanwhile, the French Socialist Party launched its ‘yes’ campaign on Saturday. Le Monde reports that there is a “crisis” within the party, with those against the EU Constitution breaking away from the rest of the party.

Chirac attempts to “buy off ‘non’ vote”.

The Sunday Times reports that Jacques Chirac is attempting to “buy off” opponents of the EU Constitution. A series of strikes last week have highlighted the unpopularity of the government and Chirac is determined to avoid any further confrontation before the referendum on 29 May. Chirac has ordered the Prime Minister to make concessions to the unions and give the civil service a one percent pay rise. The government has also backed down from education reforms under pressure from students.

The Sunday Times

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02.03
Barroso a “prisoner” to France and Germany.

An article in Le Figaro with the headline “José Manuel Barroso, prisoner of the Franco-German couple”, says the Commission President is “terrorised by the slightest remonstrance by Chirac or Schroder.”

The article reports that until a French referendum on the EU Constitution, Barroso “will do nothing that could anger Paris. Nor Berlin, bogged down in economic crisis.”

An unnamed group leader in the European Parliament is quoted saying, “He [Barroso] still has the mentality of the President of a small country. He is mixed up and doesn’t want to displease his former colleagues in the European Council.” The article says he has gained a nickname, “Barrolow”, meaning weak man.

An unnamed diplomat is quoted saying, “Faced with a Franco-German couple which is completely losing its speed, which has no initiative, no idea how to re-launch Europe, neither economically nor politically, the Commission must play the motor role given to it by the treaties.”

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11.02
France demands concessions to help win referendum.

Le Figaro reports that at a dinner with Jose Barroso yesterday, French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said, “If we want ‘yes’ to win, it is important that the Commission listens to what France has to say, notably in the matter of competition, and does not give the impression of defending a purely liberal vision of Europe.”

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03.02
Socialist opponents of Constitution face exclusion from party.

Le Figaro reports that there are continuing internal rifts within the French Socialist Party over the EU Constitution. Some of those in the party who oppose the Constitution and are refusing to tow the party line now risk being sanctioned and even excluded from the party by leader François Hollande, who wants a “single campaign in the Socialist Party for a frank, strong and socialist ‘yes’”.

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28.01
Sarkozy: “The English would triumph if we vote ‘no’”.

Leader of the French ruling UMP party Nicolas Sarkozy urged the French yesterday to accept the EU Constitution. He said, “If the French said ‘no’ in the referendum, it would be the English, who want a fiercely competitive market, who would triumph.” He also continued to advocate an ”association” with Turkey, instead of full membership.

Nicolas Sarkozy mène campagne pour le "oui" dans le Nord-Pas-de-Calais