HOW MUCH FOR YOUR SEAT, MS DEFARGE?:

Chirac faces constitutional crisis: France's referendum on the EU constitution could make or break political careers as well as the constitution itself (Jon Henley, March 10, 2005, Guardian Unlimited)

So now we know: France's political leaders face their date with destiny on May 29. For as well as determining such a minor matter as the immediate future of the EU, the outcome of the French referendum on the EU constitution will also make or break a fair few Gallic careers.

It would be betraying no secrets to say that the French president, Jacques Chirac - who announced the date of the keenly-awaited plebiscite late last week - would have given a great deal not to have had to do so. He is well aware that, if it were all to go pear-shaped, the first head on the block would be his. [...]

The position of Mr Chirac's arch-rival, the young and thrusting Nicolas Sarkozy, would, inevitably, also be weakened, although to a lesser extent - as the head of the UMP, he has been obliged to throw himself behind the yes campaign. However, unlike Mr Chirac, he was not one of the treaty's instigators, and nor was it he who signed it in Rome on behalf of the nation. Its defeat would not be entirely his defeat.

If Mr. Sakozy is really as ambitious as everyone says he should just come out against the EU.

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 10, 2005 7:06 AM