Giscard verdedigt 'eigen' Europese Grondwet

Valery Giscard d'Estaing i, the architect of the EU constitution, has blamed the French government for its failure to counteract anti-treaty campaigners, who, he says, have been successfully "stirring up fears about everything that is not in the constitution."

The latest polls published by French media suggest the No camp is maintaining its lead position ahead of Sunday's referendum, with almost daily increases.

Mr Giscard d'Estaing, a former French president, has been travelling across the country -not campaigning, but explaining why it would be folly to jettison the treaty he managed to tailor partly in France's image, he said in an interview with The Times on Tuesday (24 May).

He argued "The people are worried that the system goes too far in the direction of the Anglo-Saxons _ that this excessive 'liberalism' is endangering their conditions of work and life. That is just wrong. The constitution takes no step in [that] direction and its economic model remains the European one of the social market".

In an ironic remark about the possible consequence of the French No vote, he said that it "might encourage a British 'yes'. The British might then say, 'Now we can take the lead in Europe'.

Speaking to a local gathering at Chamalières on Tuesday (24 May), he is reported to have told the audience to ignore the long and boring Part Three - the policy part - of the treaty, as articles about the EU's goals should matter most.

"What is really funny is that if we reject the constitution, the only bit that stays in force is this third part, because it is not new and already in past treaties," he said.

Mr Giscard also repeated his claim that Turkey should never be admitted to the EU and warned the audience that there was not the slightest possibility of renegotiating the treaty, according to The Times.

Keep hands off my baby

In an interview with Les Echos, the head of the body that drew up the constitution said EU leaders did not help the document with their overall attitudes to Europe.

"When we meet difficulties they often blame Europe. So how can we be surprised then that the French have a bad idea of Europe?" he suggested.

Mr Giscard argued the politicians should have kept distant from the debate on the constitution and let academics, media and business to do the job. Otherwise, as has been made clear in France, the vote on the treaty risks becoming a vote on the current government.

However, his counterparts in the political arena do not appear to be taking his advice in the last days before the poll which starts on Sunday (29 May)- stepping up their media campaigns instead.

President Jacques Chirac is planning his third TV address to citizens during a debate held today (25 May), following a morning appearance by prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.