Panic in Euro corridors as wily old fox Chirac loses cool in brush with voters

THERE is a distinct sense of panic setting in around the corridors of Europe as the French referendum on the Constitution gets closer.

Everyone is used to the explosive Gallic temper usually manifest in workers bringing whole cities to a standstill or airports to a halt.

And normally someone - usually the government - pulls the fat out of the fire at the last minute and sweetness and light reign again. Up to now, despite polls showing a chilly reaction to the European Constitution, people kept cool in the belief that wily old fox Jacques Chirac would handle it all beautifully.