Chirac Takes Aim at EU Liberals

[chlamor]

Chirac takes aim at EU liberals in race to win yes vote

French leader claims that he has buried services directive

Nicholas Watt and David Gow in Brussels
Thursday March 24, 2005
The Guardian

Jacques Chirac went on the warpath against European liberals yesterday in an attempt to shore up his faltering campaign for a yes vote in the French referendum on the EU constitution.

Amid increasing nerves in Paris at the success of the no campaign, the French president declared that he had all but buried the most liberalising reform - the so called services directive which is designed to allow lawyers, accountants and other service workers to operate more freely across the EU.

Buoyed by his success in late-night negotiations at the European summit in Brussels, President Chirac also turned his fire on the hated "cheque Britannique", the annual £3.2bn British budget rebate which was secured by Margaret Thatcher in 1984.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/france/story/0,11882,1444625,00.html

[Stella_Artois]

1. He has a referendom to win

However, he is being short sighted imho.

If opening up this sector does indeed create more economic activity (as is the intention) then this will create jobs in the medium term.

He can't have it both ways. He can't have a bouyant economy and protect French industry from competition at the same time.