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Domestic Politics Drive EU Debate on Iraq Attack
Tuesday, August 6, 2002
(11:52 AM ET)
By Paul Taylor
Reuters European Affairs Editor

France has toned down its criticism of the United States since Chirac's re-election with a center-right majority, and new Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin speaks of seeking common ground with Washington, where his predecessor talked of balancing out the American "hyperpower."

BRUSSELS -- Reuters
Domestic politics are driving an anguished debate in Europe about a possible U.S. military strike on Iraq, but officials predict wider European government support for Washington if war approaches.

European Union leaders agree that President Saddam Hussein must let U.N. weapons inspectors back into Iraq unconditionally, but they don't agree on the "or else."

The issue could be divisive for the EU if the United States and Britain attacked Iraq without a fresh U.N. mandate.

Beleaguered German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, facing an uphill battle for re-election on September 22, has struck the most strident anti-war tone, in what analysts say is an attempt to mobilize left-wing voters and tap public anxiety.

Schroeder told his first election rally Monday the world economy could not afford a war with Iraq, and even if the United Nations backed military action, Germany would "not make itself available for an adventure."

His conservative challenger, Bavarian Premier Edmund Stoiber, sought to play down the issue, saying there were no differences between the main German parties on Iraq and it was inappropriate to exploit the subject for electioneering.

In Britain, left-wing critics of Prime Minister Tony Blair have seized on his support for the President Bush's hard line on Iraq to demand the recall of parliament to debate possible British involvement in a strike to oust Saddam.

The center-left Blair faces a growing alliance of leftists and church peace campaigners, including the designated next head of the Anglican church, while opinion polls show a majority of Britons oppose joining an American attack.

Resolution Sought
(More: Reuters.com News Source)
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