Dominante verkiezingsthema's in Frankrijk: referendum EU-grondwet en Turkije (en)

The vexed questions of whether to support Turkey's bid to become an EU member and whether to hold a referendum on the Constitution are emerging as the main issues as the European election campaigns kick off in France.

On the first issue, the ruling centre-right UMP party, is steadfastly against Turkish entry.

Its electoral programme, recently cleared by the party membership, says, "Turkey has no business in the European Union", sentiments echoed recently by the UMP leader, Alain Juppe who said last month, "The UMP does not want to see discussions with Turkey at the end of the year".

However the position of the UMP does not seem to be shared by the French President (also UMP) Jacques Chirac, who has recently said that Turkish entry is "desirable".

The opposition socialists (PS) have pounced on what they see as divisions in the centre-right ranks and have accused the UMP of trying to divert attention away from real European issues by playing on people's fears about Turkey's entrance to the EU.

The leader of the PS, Francois Hollande is in favour of Turkey joining the Union, but has concerns over Ankara's human rights record.

Most of the smaller, more eurosceptic parties are also against Turkish entry into the EU.

The President of the anti-EU CNPT party, Jean Saint-Josse, said yesterday (11 May) that Turkey has "no reason to be in Europe".

Another famous eurosceptic, Charles Pasqua - President of the "Rassemblement pour l'Europe des nations" - said that he is against Turkey joining the EU "today, tomorrow and even the day after tomorrow".

Roughly the same position is taken by the President of the "Mouvement pour la France" Philippe de Villiers and, more obviously, by the anti-immigration National Front, led by Jean-Marie Le Pen.

Referendum, please

Both pro-EU and anti-EU parties seem to be in favour of a referendum on the Constitution.

Pro-EU parties tend to be in favour because they hope to give more democratic legitimacy to the Constitutional treaty and anti-EU parties hope it will be rejected in a popular vote.

Both the main parties (UMP and PS) are in favour - the Socialists have taunted Mr Chirac saying that he should not fear the voice of the people.

And it is certainly one of the main campaign themes of Messers de Villiers, Pasqua and Saint-Josse.

But it is Mr Chirac who has the last say on this and he is steadfastly refusing to reveal his hand, saying that he will not decide whether to call a referendum until he knows what Treaty is actually agreed.