Yes side should ‘use Hollande victory in France to its advantage’

A win by François Hollande in next week’s French presidential election should be seen as an “invitation” to Ireland to say yes to the Fiscal Compact treaty, according to a former adviser to his Socialist party.

Professor Zaki Laïdi — a leading expert on European Affairs — said the Government should “take advantage” of the French election to sell the treaty as something that will favour growth and employment policies.

Mr Hollande is on course for a decisive victory in the final run-off next weekend and has promised to seek changes to the EU fiscal compact, which Ireland will vote on in a referendum on May 31.