The most likely outcome of the second Irish referendum on the Treaty of Nice, expected in late October, is another "No" vote, the Economist Intelligence Unit believes.
"Although the result may be closer than initially anticipated, the mostly likely outcome is still another 'No'" the research unit of the respected the
Economist
magazine said.
The Government will use a different campaign strategy for the new referendum, appealing more to self-interest, the EIU believes.
However, "the EU is seen, not without good reason, as elitist," the unit said in a report. "A sense of exclusivity is reinforced by the coalition of insiders who support Nice, including trade union bosses, captains of industry, religious leaders and all but a handful of parliamentarians.
"But it is not only the young woman in the street who feels she is being hectored to vote 'Yes' by the great and the good. Many others do too, including (curiously) even the share-holding classes," it said.