France could save European Democracy

The centrist French Presidential candidate, Francois Bayrou , continues to surge ahead in the opinion polls, today standing at 24 pct against 25 pct for the socialist Segolene Royal and 26 pct for Nicolas Sarkozy . This latest leap comes after the following statement made on 28th February, linked here, as follows:

François Bayrou: calls for new text which can be put to referendum

François Bayrou said citizens felt they had “a Europe, that they did not choose, imposed on them” with “opaque” and “impenetrable” rules, he said, before considering the “true nature of the European project”. In order to avoid further widening the divide between Europe and the people, the French would, whatever happened, be called on to vote on the new text, in 2009 perhaps, but not necessarily at the same time as other countries of the EU, he said. He wanted to get down to seven major pieces of work for Europe: an economic policy, particularly for the eurozone, with “budgetary and tax harmonisation”; joint diplomatic action; defence; climate issues; energy policy; immigration policy; and European research policy. These were areas where there was “no response without Europe”, while others, such as social policy, could be set in each country, Mr Bayrou said. “I believe that when this question is put, it is out of the question that it be dealt with other than through a referendum.”

Significantly Bayrou today confirmed in Brussels that he would grant the French people another referendum on any revised or repeated EU Constitution - something the other two leading candidates have steadfastly refused to do. Even if the Bayrou surge cannot be maintained until polling day we could now nevertheless see a similar pledge being extracted from the two main candidates - thus killing the constitution for the foreseeable future, whatever further anti-democratic treachery PM Blair presently has planned! An earlier report on the candidate's Brussels visit may be read in English from here. TF1 lunchtime TV news headlined the actual referendum pledge.