European newspapers are devoting substantial column inches to the Irish referendum. Derek Scally, Lara Marloweand Jamie Smythreport
PANIC, ANGST and referendum fever - this is how leading German-language newspapers are describing the atmosphere in Ireland before the Lisbon Treaty vote.
Every major publication has sent reporters to Ireland to gauge the mood and explain to readers the consequences of the Irish vote.
Amid familiar soundbites from familiar talking heads - Brian Cowen, Brigid Laffan, Declan Ganley - is a familiar narrative: Irish voters, who have benefited like no others from EU subsidies, are poised to give Brussels the two fingers.
Many reporters are impressed and alarmed, seeing the Yes campaign as a lumbering establishment elephant unable to react to the guerrilla No campaign. "Among civil servants, diplomats and academics in Dublin there's not one optimistic voice ahead of the vote," noted Munich's Süddeutsche Zeitungin a report headlined "Who's Afraid of the Little Man?"
The left-wing Tageszeitungcomplained about the "insular" nature of the debate, with just a handful of ordinary people joining politicians and journalists at the National Forum for Europe.
"The Irish Don't Know" is how the Frankfurter Allgemeinereported on the campaign. "As if they wanted to enjoy the suspense a little more, the Irish have given little away in opinion polls. The large majority has yet to make up its mind."
Berlin's Tagesspiegelsuggested that turnout will be key and that recent opinion polls will "awaken the civic sense of those in favour". The Handelsblattbusiness newspaper tells a story of perplexed voters, frustrated farmers and businessmen annoyed at perceived EU interference, against a backdrop of growing economic uncertainty.
In its opinion, Brussels will only have itself to blame if Irish voters reject the treaty, after sticking its head in the sand before the vote rather than try to dissipate fears.
In Austria, the Viennese Wiener Zeitungran a report under the headline: "We Irish Won't Be Threatened". "Mostly the debate runs in circles, just 5 per cent of people feel well informed."
Like many newspapers, Austria's Die Presseis impressed by the energy of the No camp's campaign against the political establishment, drawing parallels with the comic adventures of Asterix and Obelix.
"We find ourselves in the year 2008 AD. All of Europe is occupied by Brussels? All? No! An island populated by unyielding Irishmen refuse to end their resistance against the invader."
"After nearly 10 years of institutional discussions and subtle compromises, the Europeans are tired," wrote Marion Van Renterghem in an analysis in France's newspaper of record Le Monde, yesterday.
An Irish No would present an insoluble problem: "It seems impossible to renegotiate the treaty, unlikely the Europeans could abandon it to return to the present framework of the Treaty of Nice, and legally untenable to think of a Union of 26, without Ireland, which is already in the euro zone."
In an earlier editorial, Le Mondepredicted that the entire edifice of the Lisbon Treaty could come crashing down if Ireland votes No. "Years of negotiations, in which Europe invested much time and energy, will be reduced to oblivion." So what could be done? Van Renterghem recalls the assurances made to Ireland after the initial rejection of the Nice Treaty. "But what could be conceded this time? In Brussels, no one sees what more could be offered to Ireland."
In his editorial on France-Inter radio, Bernard Guetta said that whatever the result of tomorrow's vote, "there is a certainty in this uncertainty: Europeans, or at least many of them in many countries, are angry with Europe".
In an editorial devoted to Monday's Franco-German summit, Le Figaroyesterday portrayed the Irish referendum as a test for newly improved relations between France and Germany. A lot could change in the course of France's six-month presidency.
"Before then," the newspaper concludes, "this Thursday, an Irish No to the referendum on the mini-treaty would be dreadful for everyone: it is in this trial that Sarkozy and Merkel should then demonstrate their ability to get along".
Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheterraised the prospect of Ireland being forced to leave the EU if its citizens vote No in its main editorial yesterday.
"In countries where the constitution or political situation forces them to hold referendums on EU issues, the electorate need to clearly know what the consequences of a No are. It puts into question a country's membership of the union and repeated No votes have to lead to a situation where a country will put itself out of the EU."
Berlingske Tidende, a Conservative newspaper in Denmark, wrote an editorial under the headline "The sceptical Irish" this week.
It argued that both Ireland and Europe need the treaty and predicts a successful outcome in the referendum.