French EU referendum ‘lost’

Senior French politicians have given Sunday’s crucial EU vote up as “lost”, report European newspapers.

Former French finance minister, leader of ruling centre-right UMP and rival to President Jacques Chirac, Nicolas Sarkozy has predicted a ‘non’ on May 29.

“The thing is lost,” he is reported s telling Elysée colleagues on Wednesday.

Le Figaro has reported Sarkozy as forecasting a definite rejection with the French ‘non’ only a matter of degree. “It will be a little no or a big no,” he said.

International currency markets have reacted to the comments and a looming French rejection of the EU constitution.

In the event of a ‘no’ both French and Dutch citizens should vote again until Europe gets the “right answer”, the EU presidency has urged.

Luxembourg’s Prime Minister and holder of the EU presidency Jean-Claude Juncker also warned that a French ‘non’ would be a “disaster” for Europe and the whole world.

“The countries which have said ‘No’ will have to ask themselves the question again. And if we don't manage to find the right answer, the treaty will not enter into force,” he said.

“If there is a 'no' on Sunday in France, that would be a catastrophe for France, for Chirac and for the entire world.”

FT Europe forecasts that rejection would be a "savage electoral indictment" of Chirac, who has tried to rebuild his authority on the basis of the EU constitution. 

Le Figaro reports that Chirac's TV address tonight will be his "final call" for the constitution, as well as his own political future.

One of France's top corporate chiefs, Claude Bébéar, broke industry silence on the referendum, telling FT Deutschland that a ‘non’ would be “very bad” for French companies, which would be blocked from undertaking necessary reforms.

Four former Dutch leaders - Wim Kok, Ruud Lubbers, Dries van Agt and Piet de Jong – have signed a declaration supporting the EU constitution, reports FT Europe.

A poll published by Maurice de Hond for Dutch television, showed the ‘ja’ camp closing the gap with no, moving up from 40 per cent to 43 per cent, compared to three days earlier.

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