JUST AS WE ARE GRATEFUL TO AL GORE FOR THE INTERNET...

'Non' a strong 'oui' for Europe (Dimitris Yannopoulos, Athens News, June 3rd, 2005)

A surprisingly relaxed and composed French ambassador to Greece, Bruno Delaye, agreed to a face-to-face interview with the Athens News amidst a worldwide furore triggered by the outright rejection of the European Constitution by French voters in the May 29 referendum.

There is worldwide talk of European crisis, disaster and despair in the wake of the French 'non' to the proposed European constitution. Some say the 'mother of European integration has abandoned her child'. Others speak of a death sentence for a unified Europe. What is your reaction as a French citizen and diplomat?

I certainly don't share any of the doomsayers' pronouncements and slogans. My professional experience has taught me that every crisis is also an opportunity to ponder and confront old problems in creative new ways. In the case of the referendum, this was a unique opportunity for 40 million French citizens to form and express a clear opinion about the European constitution and the future of the European Union.

From the moment the date of the vote was set, President Jacques Chirac called for the text of the constitution to reach every French household, making it a matter of the utmost importance for every French voter. What actually happened has surpassed the expectations not only of the president but virtually the whole of the French establishment. Not only did the French read the 250-page text, but also discussed and debated it among themselves in an unprecedented variety of democratic fora and media of communication, which encouraged people to form their own opinions independently of the mainstream media and newspapers.

The people's debate soon bypassed that of their representatives in the national assembly, the parties or the media. From the outset, 90 percent of the French media was in favour of a 'yes' to the Euro-constitution as were the main political parties who represented 92 percent of the French parliament seats. But people created an incredible number of alternative media, what we call blogs, chat-room networks, email foras and independent websites - often of only one person - expressing, sharing and disseminating their own opinion with thousands of others every day.

What you're describing is an eruption of internet democracy?

Exactly! A new form of democracy, totally unconstrained, very idiosyncratic, both funny and serious, exciting and thoughtful at times. Then the internet discussions spilled over into the bars, the diners and the cafes, reverting back to the households in a continuous spiral of exchanging and clarifying fresh ideas or opinions about Europe and its future. And we should be grateful to President Chirac for initiating this process, even if he is not very comfortable with the outcome of the referendum.

Brothersjudd would like to thank President Chirac for the opportunity to help exchange and clarify new ideas and opinions about Europe and its future.