French PM confident voters will back EU charter

PARIS, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin expressed confidence that French voters would back the EU constitution in a national referendum this year, saying the government's low popularity ratings should not taint the debate.

"I do not doubt the success of the 'Yes' (vote). I am confident in the good sense of the French," Raffarin told the daily newspaper Liberation in an interview due to be published on Saturday.

President Jacques Chirac has said the referendum on the EU constitution, which aims partly to make it easier for the bloc to take decisions following enlargement last May, would take place before the summer. But he has yet to fix a date.

There is concern that disgruntled voters could use the referendum to punish the government, after dealing the ruling conservative UMP party two consecutive defeats in regional and European elections in 2004.

Raffarin faces a wave of protests next week with planned strikes by young doctors, post office workers, railway employees, teachers, telecommunications and energy workers to press wide-ranging demands.

Unions will test their strength with the protests and then with nationwide rallies on Feb. 5 over government plans to amend the law on the 35-hour working week, which workers prize.

Raffarin said he was sensitive to unions' concerns, but insisted they were separate from the debate on the EU charter.

"The stakes are not the same. I am nonetheless paying the utmost attention to the social protests that are going to take place next week," he said, according to an advance copy of the interview provided by his office.

He brushed off his dismal popularity ratings, which have triggered suggestions in French media that he could be replaced.

"When I compare my popularity to that of other European heads of state, I am not pessimistic," Raffarin said. "One can vote 'Yes' without being a Socialist and one can vote 'Yes' without being a member of the UMP."

French voters have proven fickle in past referendums, most notably in the 1992 vote on the Maastricht treaty, which seemed like a sure win when it was announced but only passed by a razor-thin majority as opponents rallied disgruntled voters.

Latest surveys show some 59 percent of French would vote 'yes' on the EU constitution.

"Oui, I am sure the sheep will vote for the NWO Socialism we have offered them. Once we own their minds, we will own their bodies and souls."

We WILL be in a war with these pathetic lemmings, and it will be in our lifetimes.

2 posted on 01/16/2005 4:32:23 PM PST by Viking2002 (Taglines? Vikings don't need no steenkin' taglines..............)

But of course . . . it eez better to surrender to the EU before even a single shot eez fired.

/Peppy LePhew

3 posted on 01/16/2005 4:33:48 PM PST by BenLurkin (Big government is still a big problem.)

And the worst part is, we have, just like in the 1930s, a chance to stop them instead we are nursing them to strength. Why? Why do we never learn? Oh and Chirac is now planning a Senator for Life position.

4 posted on 01/16/2005 4:36:59 PM PST by jb6 (Truth = Christ)

The expanded EU, especially if Islamic Turkey is ever admitted, will be a death trap for the Frogs.

But who cares?

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