SPAIN: Campaigning has entered its final stages in the run-up to Sunday's referendum in Spain on the proposed European Union Constitution. Although it is likely to be approved by a substantial majority, campaigners for a Yes vote are concerned there may be a low turnout.
Poll figures show that 40 per cent of respondents intend to vote Yes and 7 per cent No, with 38 per cent undecided. But almost 90 per cent admit they know little or nothing about the actual content of the Constitution. Only 46 per cent intend to vote in the referendum, with young people most likely to abstain.
Spain's Socialist Prime Minister, Mr José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, has staked his political reputation on a successful outcome.
Up to a dozen EU member-states are planning to hold referendums and Spain is first into the field. Mr Zapatero has repeatedly stressed that "all eyes in Europe will be upon us on February 20th". A poor turnout by Spanish voters, ie below 40 per cent of the electorate, would hinder the momentum of the Europe-wide campaign for ratification.
In an effort to bring out the young vote, Spain's Youth Council has launched an "energy" drink, called Referendum Plus. Presented in a slick black can, this sweet beverage is being distributed at nightclubs and colleges, "as an antidote to laziness and political apathy".
No date has been set for the Irish referendum but informed sources predict it will take place in late autumn, possibly the third week of October. The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, is believed to be reasonably confident that the Irish electorate will endorse the Constitution. However, a No vote in the French referendum, expected to be held in May or June, would be seen as a very serious setback to the entire project.
The Spanish referendum is non-binding and the Cortes, the Spanish parliament, will make the final decision, but the main impact of the vote will be felt in the rest of Europe. All the mainstream political parties in Spain are supporting a Yes vote, with most of the opposition coming from those elements of Catalan and Basque nationalism who feel the Constitution is inadequate for their needs. The Spanish bishops have said that voting Yes, No or abstaining were all legitimate options. This is seen as reflecting their unhappiness over the government's liberal social policies.
Supporters of the Constitution are concerned that Spanish voters may be taking the EU for granted. Since accession in 1986, Spain has received more than €85 billion in EU aid. According to government estimates, European funds have financed four out of every 10 km of the country's modern motorways and the EU has helped create 300,000 jobs a year in Spain.
At a rally in the northeastern city of Zaragoza last night, German Chancellor Mr Gerhard Schröder became the second major EU leader after French President Jacques Chirac to lend support to Spain's prime minister. He drew on common political ideals in his address to a hall packed with Spanish Socialists waving "si" and "Ja" ("yes" in Spanish and German) flags as well as the EU's bright blue banner with yellow stars.
"We Social Democrats want Europe to have an open market and a strong economy, of course. But we want a lot more than that," he said to enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.
"We want Europe to be strong economically but also strong in social terms. We want Europe to find a strong voice in the world through the peaceful resolution of conflicts," he added.