Sun, May 29, 2005 - Page 6 News List

France divided ahead of EU vote

`OUI' OR `NON' A `non' vote, which latest polls indicate could be the outcome, could send shock waves through Europe and set back the decades-long process of integration

AP , PARIS

But across town, in a gritty cafe near Pere Lachaise, the storied cemetery where famed French playwright Moliere and former Doors frontman Jim Morrison are buried, sales clerk Francoise Foulon wasn't buying.

``I'm for a democratic Europe, but I detest outside meddling. I live in France, not Brussels,'' she said.

While a defeat would shake the EU to its core, it could plunge France -- one of the architects of the project -- into political chaos. Chirac's popularity ratings have plunged to 39 percent in recent weeks, and there was widespread speculation that a ``no'' would prompt him to fire unpopular Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.

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