French President Jacques Chirac on Thursday made a live television debate with 83 young adults aged 18-30, trying to convince French people to say "yes" to the European Constitution, saying that a 'no' vote would make Paris the "black sheep" of the European Union.

In the two-hour debate six weeks ahead of a May 29 referendum on the constitutional treaty, the French president said that if France votes "no" at the referendum, it would be considerably weakened and considered as "black sheep" in Europe.

As to the globalization that worries French people and the world's evolution towards multipolars, Chirac said "Europe must be strong and organized" to act as a counterweight to established powers like the United States and emerging states like China and India and future powers like Brazil, South America and Russia.

Since mid-March, more than a dozen opinion polls showed that more than half French voters would reject the European constitution at the referendum on May 29.

With the "no" "European construction would stop," Chirac warned.

He also said he would not resign if French voters say "no" at the referendum.

"I think that a great democracy must use a referendum as a means of expression. Unfortunately in France, it's not part of our tradition, and so we have difficulty with it," he said. "Domestic policy has its own rules, rhythms and demands," the French president said.

"At the moment when we are about to make a fundamental decision for the future of our country, for the future of Europe... I don't want that to be mixed up with the day-to-day politics of a European country," Chirac said.

The French president told "all French people" through the 83 young adults were present at place: "It's to all the French people that I address through the young people who are here" and told them not to have fear, saying the European Constitution corresponds to a logic that is just non-liberal.

Source: Xinhua