For Eurosceptics this is both the best of times and the worst of times. The planned constitution for the European Union is stoking their fears of a nascent European superstate. But the prospect that many of the 25 countries involved in the negotiations will hold referendums on the constitution also presents those opposed to the Brussels mantra of "ever closer union" with a rare opportunity to halt the federalist steamroller. Referendums are ideal for the agitators known as Euro-sceptics in Britain, Eurorealists in Scandinavia and Souverai-nistes in France. In elections, Europe is rarely a salient enough issue to sway voters. But in a referendum in which voters are asked directly about a European issue the sceptics have a chance of mobilising the "silent majority" that they believe shares their views. Referendums also allow the sceptics to paper over ideological divisions. Jesper Katz, a Swedish economist who campaigned successfully for a No vote in the recent referendum on Sweden's entry into the euro, argued his case from a free-market perspective. He was unperturbed by the fact that many of his allies were left-wingers who saw the euro as part of a capitalist plot. The campaign philosophy, he says, was: "You work your side of the street and I'll work my side, and we'll go back to fighting each other when this is over."
展开▼
