Kritiek van Spaanse oud-premier op resultaat Grondwet (en)

Spain's former prime minister has strongly criticised the recently-agreed European Constitution.

José María Aznar, who stepped down in March, said on Monday (5 July) that the document agreed by EU leaders on 17-18 June was "deplorable" for Spain, according to AFP.

"Spaniards should think long and hard and then make the right decision", he warned.

He reserved special criticism for the new voting system, which he had fought hard against when he was in power.

He battled to keep the vote system under the Nice Treaty which gives Spain a disproportionate amount of power for its size meaning that, along with Poland, it could be counted as belonging to the big countries.

The new system, which reduced both Madrid's and Warsaw's power, was accepted by socialist José Luis Rodriguez Zapetero after he came to power in March.

"In this power game there were winners and losers ... unfortunately, Spain is one of the losers. Spain had a place among the big nations but it is now at a table with the small players", said the former prime minister.

Mr Aznar's comments follow a series of attacks on the newly elected Socialist government, which Mr Aznar's party has accused of putting good relations before the national interest.