Spanish go to polls to vote on EU charter

MADRID - Spaniards went to the polls on Sunday in the European Union's first referendum on its new constitution, with supporters of the charter hoping Europhile Spain would set a strong example for waverers like Britain.

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has staked his reputation on making Spaniards, who only joined the EU in 1986, the first to approve its new constitution.

The "yes" vote is expected to win easily, but low turnout would be a blow to Zapatero's credibility, after the opposition has criticised him for rushing Spaniards to the polls.

It would also raise awkward questions ahead of referendums in more eurosceptic countries.

Polls opened at 0800 GMT (9pm NZT) with nearly 35 million voters eligible to answer the question: "Do you approve the treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe?"

Some 106,000 police were on alert for potential violence from the armed Basque separatist group ETA, battered but still eager to attack. On Thursday, police arrested a man and woman in Valencia with explosives for an "imminent" attack.

"Everything is ready for Spaniards to speak. Millions of people in the whole world are waiting to hear our voice," said Soledad Lopez, an undersecretary at the Interior Ministry.

Unlike eurosceptics Britain, Denmark and Ireland, Spain is friendly to the EU thanks to an economic boom associated with 86 billion euros ($159 billion) of subsidies over the past 20 years.

After a brief campaign, a survey by state pollster CIS showed around 90 per cent of Spaniards had little knowledge of the 350-page constitution. Zapatero has tried to focus the vote on the benefits of Europe rather than the charter itself.

"I am voting yes - it should be good for Europe. Spain has improved enormously since we joined (the EU), culturally and economically," said avocado farmer Antonio Arrabal Ruiz, 46, who planned to take an overnight bus from Madrid to his hometown of Malaga to vote.

The charter needs ratification by all 25 EU members to take effect and EU leaders hope Spain can set a good example. French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder joined Zapatero on the campaign trail.

A resounding "yes" from Socialist Spain could help Chirac to quell growing left-wing criticism of the constitution at home.

In Spain, both the ruling Socialists and the conservative opposition Popular Party support the "yes" vote. A muted no campaign has come from regional parties demanding greater home rule and a left-wing group which wants more welfare commitments.

"It has been hard to take a decision but I'm going to vote no," said Rafael Vadillo, 27, a ticket seller at Madrid's Atocha train station. "This charter falls short of what we need."

With surveys showing high voter apathy, government officials are saying they would be happy if a third of the electorate votes. However, the Popular Party said it will demand the government accept responsibility if turnout is under 40 per cent.

The referendum is not legally binding and parliament needs to ratify the constitution. Zapatero has said he would respect the outcome, but high abstention could question the legitimacy of parliamentary support for the charter, analysts say.

It will be the first time Spaniards have voted on their membership of the EU. Three previous referendums - on the party system, the 1978 Spanish constitution and Nato membership - showed sharply declining participation.

The constitution is designed to modernise the bloc's unwieldy institutions after it brought in 10 new members last May. Ironically, the inclusion of these poorer states from eastern and central Europe will likely herald an end to the generous subsidies enjoyed by Spain.

- REUTERS