Austrian far-right leader Mr Joerg Haider today praised Ireland's rejection of the Nice Treaty in a referendum last week and is using the example to demand a vote in Austria.
He said he would make enlargement of the European Union an election issue when the country next goes to the polls in 2003.
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The Freedom Party formally supports enlargement but it wants arrangements to prevent an influx of cheap labour from eastern Europe.
It also fears that the Nice Treaty, designed to prepare the Union for expansion, could undermine the influence of smaller countries, such as Austria, in the EU.
"The decision on enlargement will probably coincide with the next election," Mr Haider said. "So the people will decide. If Schuessel does not want that, that is his problem. It will be an election issue."
The party's conservative coalition partners, led by Chancellor Mr Wolfgang Schuessel, have ruled out a referendum.
The present coalition took office in February 2000 after an election in October 1999. The next general election is due in 2003.