French President Jacques Chirac began his campaign to save the European Union constitution last night by warning voters France could "cease to exist politically" in the EU if they reject it in a referendum.
Mr Chirac mixed warnings of dire consequences and gentle lecturing on the content of the constitution in a live televised debate with 83 young people.
He said the treaty could not be renegotiated if voters reject it on May 29th vote but that he would not resign over the treaty on which he has staked his personal prestige.
"If by chance France did not vote in favour, France would at least for a certain time cease to exist politically at the heart of this Europe," the president said in his concluding comments after a more than two-hour debate.
Mr Chirac urged voters not to mix their dissatisfaction with domestic political and economic matters with the issues at stake in the vote on the constitution.
The president entered the fray with opinion polls showing the anti-treaty campaign is clearly ahead just six weeks before the referendum. The surveys point to deep discontent with high unemployment and with France's declining influence in Europe.
The charter is intended to make decision-making easier following the admission of 10 new members last May. Rejection could cause a crisis at the heart of the Union because the treaty requires the approval of all 25 EU member states.