France: With only five days to go until the European constitutional treaty referendum, the three most recent opinion polls in France indicate a No victory.
A poll published on Sunday put the No vote at 52 per cent and two new polls published yesterday showed that 52 or 53 per cent of the French will vote No.
The mood at the Élysée Palace and socialist party headquarters is one of pessimistic resignation, though few publicly predict a No vote. Speaking on German radio on Sunday, the pro-treaty Green MEP Daniel Cohn-Bendit said it was "very likely" the No would win because "those who are for the No have succeeded in turning it into a debate between a liberal Europe and a social Europe".
Dissatisfaction with the French executive branch has mobilised voters against the treaty. Seventy-four per cent of French voters say they are unhappy with Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, a record in unpopularity since the Fifth Republic was founded in 1958. At 40 per cent, President Chirac's approval rating is at its lowest point in eight years.
The former prime minister Lionel Jospin and Mr Chirac will both make final appeals in favour of the treaty this week. They hope to sway the 20 to 24 per cent of voters who remain undecided.