FRANCE: French president Jacques Chirac will start his long-awaited campaign for the European Union constitution tonight, giving himself just six weeks to reverse the tide of opinion polls that show France could scupper the treaty.
The demoralised Yes camp is pinning its hopes on Mr Chirac to stave off defeat in a referendum on May 29th that could plunge the EU into crisis and sideline France in the union it helped found.
Those in favour of the proposed constitution also fear that a French No could influence Dutch voters who are due to give their verdict on June 1st.
"Now is the time to make an appeal for responsibility from voters," government spokesman Jean-Francois Cope said of Mr Chirac's scheduled appearance in a televised debate with 80 young people in the Elysee Palace this evening.
Mr Chirac delayed starting his campaign in the hope of giving the Yes camp a late boost that would carry it across the finishing line first. He calculated that entering the fray too early would risk his campaign losing momentum before the end.
He has been forced to step in now because of pleas for help from worried members of his ruling centre-right party after 13 successive opinion polls put the No camp ahead and showing no sign of the Yes campaign halting the trend.
Pollsters say voters' discontent over economic issues such as high unemployment and France's declining role in the EU make it a real possibility the country will reject the treaty.
This would cause a potentially grave crisis in the EU itself because the constitution needs the approval of all 25 member states to go into force.
Mr Chirac is unlikely to tackle complaints over the economy in the debate but will try to explain the merits of the constitution, intended to make decision-making easier in the EU following its enlargement in May last year.
He is expected to say the constitution will strengthen France's influence in the EU and that rejecting it would undermine France and the union itself.
The debate has caused controversy because critics say Mr Chirac will not face any tough questions from an audience of 18- to 25-year-olds who broadly back the treaty. Opponents portray the debate as a 90-minute showcase for Mr Chirac's views.
Independent politician Philippe de Villiers described it as a "marketing programme". Far-right leader Jean-Marie le Pen accused Mr Chirac of planning "monologues to a convinced public".
The programme also poses problems for the opposition Socialist Party. The party's leadership backs the constitution but many Socialists are loath to give their support because that would mean siding with Mr Chirac.