Final Word from Friday, May 27, 2005
If the "Non" vote wins in France on Sun., the immediate reaction of politicians across Europe will be critical for determining the final fate of the EU constitution. A defeatist attitude would harm any hopes of a renegotiation or revote. It's partly in this light that we should see Premier Jiří Paroubek's attack yesterday on Václav Klaus's EU rhetoric while abroad. Paroubek, it seems, was signalling that even if the French vote "Non," his government won't cede the EU fight to Klaus. While in Paris last week, Paroubek got warmed up for this head-on collision with Klaus by indirectly comparing the Czech president to France's own Mr. No, Laurent Fabius. Paroubek said the CR also hears lies and self-serving distortions about the EU constitution. Since returning from Paris, Paroubek has quickly established himself as the CR's lead Yes man. What did the French feed him? [Czech Republic European Union referendum]