Cash scandal hits pro-euro Danes
Mark Zarb, Copenhagen and Peter Conradi
THE Danish government has been accused of misusing public money to
boost
the flagging "yes" campaign in next week's referendum on joining the
euro,
as opposition to the single currency surges to new highs. A "no" vote
on
September 28 would damage the euro's credibility and reduce the
likelihood
of British membership.
There was outrage within the "no" camp last week after it emerged
that the
economics ministry had circulated a pro-euro leaflet to all public
offices
and libraries singing the praises of membership. Its cover showed
Lise
Norgaard, one of the country's favourite authors, holding a euro and
a
krone and asking the question: "What's the big difference?"
Marianne Jelved, the pro-euro economics minister, has been accused of
an
abuse of public funds. Although the government of Poul Nyrup
Rasmussen
backs membership, the rules on referendums bar the use of state money
on
either side. "This is political agitation, not factual information,"
complained Jens Peter Christensen, a professor of constitutional
law.
Danish commentators have been astounded by the speed with which the
mood
has shifted against the euro. As recently as last weekend, polls
showed a
narrow lead for the "yes" camp. This weekend the latest survey showed
euro
opponents leading by 49% to 40%.
The effects of rejection would be felt far beyond Denmark. A majority
of
fund managers polled by bankers Merrill Lynch warned a "no" vote
would be
negative for the euro itself, delay the enlargement of the European
Union
to take in the former communist countries of eastern Europe and make
ultimate British membership far less likely.
"It would be a disaster for the euro," said Stephan Gamper, who
manages
more than £1 billion for Bank Sarasie and Cie in Basle, Switzerland.
"It
would be a political rejection and that would do the currency a lot
of
psychological damage in the foreign exchange market's eyes."
Rasmussen admitted he was worried by the swing in opinion. There were
also
reports that his Social Democratic-Radical Liberal coalition was
considering joining forces with its political arch-enemies to stage a
common "yes" front. "There is panic in the 'yes' camp - it was only
to be
expected," said Ivar Norgaard, a social democratic politician and
former
minister who negotiated Denmark's entry into the then EEC in 1973 and
is
now an ardent "no" campaigner.
Prominent opponents of the euro - such as Pia Kjaersgaard, the
flamboyant
head of the anti-immigration Danish People's party - have succeeded
in
turning the euro referendum into a broader one on European
integration.
Kjaersgaard's dire warnings of a threat to Danish sovereignty have
sounded
a chord among a nation as wary of Brussels as the British.
http://www.the-times.co.uk/news/pages/Sunday-Times/frontpage.html
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