European press review

The French "No" to the EU constitution in Sunday's referendum dominates today's European press, with many papers leading on its rejection by some 55% of voters.

Elsewhere, the past comes under the spotlight in Austria and the Czech Republic.

"Non"

The headlines in European papers' web editions report the French "No" vote in stark clarity.

"Historic 'no' to the European constitution," proclaims the French daily Le Figaro.

"Shock for EU - French reject constitution," cries Germany's Bild.

The Paris daily Liberation describes the vote as a "masterpiece of masochism" which voters fearful of the effects of globalisation inflicted on themselves.

In Spain - the first country to endorse the treaty in a referendum - the daily El Pais does not conceal its deep regret, despite the high turnout and what it calls the "positive" debate on the EU's future.

It is clear that we cannot go on without France El Pais

"One of the founding countries... has decided to put the brakes on what has so far been an unprecedented success in the history of international relations and in the construction of a prosperous and peaceful continent," the paper says.

While recognising that the "No" vote reflected unhappiness with France's political leaders, with EU enlargement and the prospect of Turkish membership, it warns of a turbulent future.

"Even if Luxembourg's six-month presidency insists on following the ratification calendar, it is clear that we cannot go on without France."

Also in Spain, El Mundo predicts a return to Europe's past.

"We are returning, then, to the era of national egoism and the defence of self-interest as opposed to compromise and solidarity. Bad news for Europe and for Spain, which until now has been one of the great beneficiaries of EU integration," it adds.

But another Madrid daily, La Razon, does not lament the defeat of the "Yes" campaign.

"The reality, whether we like it or not, is that many Europeans do not want a constitution separate from citizens and close to the bureaucrats," it argues.

"But this cannot and must not be the end," it goes on, "because this treaty is not the single, exclusive path."

Spain's ABC says the vote reflects badly on Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who had personally visited France to back the "Yes" campaign.

"France is undoubtedly ill and the diagnosis should be a wake-up call to Zapatero," says the paper.

Looking in from outside the EU, the Geneva daily Le Temps nevertheless sees some parallels with referendums in Switzerland.

"Like so many votes today in Europe and in Switzerland, this 'no' protests but does not propose... It is impossible to draw any clear conclusion from it, other than that of a crisis between the 'elites' and the 'people'," it says.

French revolt

Every so often in its history, the French people absolutely refuse to listen to reason and revolt, killing the king La Stampa

Even before the result, many European papers were explaining the reasons for the impending "No" vote.

The Turin daily La Stampa saw it more as a protest against France's leaders than a rejection of the European project.

"Every so often in its history, the French people absolutely refuse to listen to reason and revolt, killing the king," the paper says in its Sunday edition.

Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung said the prospect of a "No" vote in the French referendum on the European constitution is a sign of hostility towards recent developments in the EU.

Germany's Die Welt said France was preparing for what it calls "sweeping domestic political change".

Germany's Der Tagesspiegel says both the French and the Dutch referendums are overshadowed by domestic political issues.

"On Sunday in France many French people were determined to punish the unpopular prime minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin," the paper says.

"In the Netherlands, too, Wednesday's vote is also in the first instance regarded as a plebiscite on Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende," it adds.

Seeking recognition...

In Austria, Der Standard says the country should grant due recognition to deserters from Nazi Germany's armed forces after an MP referred to them as "assassins of battle comrades".

On Sunday Siegfried Kampl said he would not resign from the upper house of Austria's parliament over his remarks.

The paper notes that there seems to be no way of stopping him from taking over the presidency of the upper house in July.

"This is the issue of deserters from the Wehrmacht," the paper continues, "who 60 years after the war still haven't been granted any recognition, either in pensions law or through being honoured officially."

By granting them this recognition, the paper argues, it can be shown that Austria's verdict on the deserters is different from that of Siegfried Kampl.

Die Presse says Siegfried Kampl's remarks need to be condemned in clear terms.

... and defending a reputation

In Prague's Pravo, Czech Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek attempts to clear the name of the first postwar Czechoslovak president, Edvard Benes, describing him as one of the most respected European politicians of his time.

"He took on his shoulders an enormous share of responsibility", argues Mr Paroubek, adding that Benes strove to achieve a balance of power in Europe and guarantee security for Czechoslovakia.

The oft-repeated claims that Benes was responsible, among other things, for the Nazi occupation, fraternisation with the Soviets and the expulsion of ethnic Hungarians are, in Mr Paroubek's words, "ahistoric and objectively difficult to defend".

BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaus abroad.