Frans 'nee'-kamp telt af naar referendum (en)

EUOBSERVER / PARIS - On the last weekend before France's crucial referendum, both the right and left wings of the no camp organised mass gatherings in Paris to express their opposition to the EU constitution.

Drawing their supporters to different parts of the city on the same day, the anti-constitution campaigners presented their arguments against the current government and president Jacques Chirac, as well as what they see as the neo-liberal character of the new EU treaty.

At a rally of around 5,000 on Saturday (21 May), Philippe de Villiers, the leader of the nationalist Movement for France, criticised the document for its potential damage to the sovereignty of the country via a transfer of powers to Brussels.

His campaign also centered around the opposition to Turkey's membership of the EU, calling the treaty the "Turkish constitution".

Vive l'Europe des Nations

The multimedia show in Paris was attended by French citizens of different ages and from various parts of the country.

"I am not yet totally convinced by any side, but I think the whole EU is not very democratic, and the constitution is not going to change it. We should build new and better insitutions, under a different document - not so complicated that no one understands it," said Antoine, a student of 22.

Several eurosceptic MEPs from different countries at the rally also rejected the document.

They called on the French to "save Europe from the constitution" - especially for citizens of countries where there is to be no referendum.

"European bureaucrats are trying to bully us in the Czech republic, Holland, Poland, suggesting we would be alone to say no. But they could hardly threaten the greatest of the nations", declared Czech MEP Vladimir Zelezny, followed by great applause, despite giving his speech in English.

Nigel Farage, the British co-leader of the eurosceptic group in the European Parliament, which financially supported Mr de Villiers' campaign, said he might have different reasons for opposing the treaty, but that the "French non would be the first step towards a Europe of nations, which all of us want to achieve."

No to France becoming a "bundesland"

Philippe de Villiers, given a star's welcome by his supporters, accused the government of not telling the truth about the constitution and of "yes-hammering".

"The yes camp has 65 per cent of air-time, whereas we have 35 per cent. The no has to be really strong to resist", he said.

Mr de Villiers' key argument was that the constitution would make Turkish membership of the EU possible.

The no leader claimed that Turkey and the constitution were "the same thing", as Turkey has put its signature under the final version of the document.

Referring to the Turkish refusal to recognise the Armenian genocide, Philippe de Villiers addressed French Armenians, saying that a French no "will also be a no of honour. We will never accept that Turkey joins Europe because of you".

He also said that Europe "does not protect us anymore, and costs us too much", while the constitution would be a danger for French sovereignty, for transforming the country into a "Bundesland or a region".

Echoing Mr de Villiers' words, Françoise, a pensioner for a couple of years, told EUobserver "I do not support a federal Europe. I say no to the dilution of France, no to Turkey, and no to Chirac".

The final countdown

Mr de Villiers entered the room to the sound of "Final countdown" - a song by the 1980s band Europe - and ended the meeting with the French national anthem, rejecting the yes camp's claims that a French no would be dramatic and would lead both Europe and France into a crisis.

"If there was no a plan b, Chirac would not have chosen to have a referendum", Mr de Villiers told his public.

"France is a European power, it is not possible to envisage Europe without France. Our no will save a European Europe", rather than "create a Euro-Asian Europe", he added.