Dustin the Turkey urges 'no' vote in Irish EU poll

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

DUBLIN (AFP) — Opponents of a European Union reform treaty received the backing of Ireland's Eurovision Song Contest flop Dustin the Turkey as voters went to the polls Thursday.

"Isn't a shame there wasn't a third box we could tick that just said: 'What?'" said the purple-beaked glove puppet, who tried and failed for European glory in this year's competition.

"That way they'd have to go back to the table, work out a proper way of explaining the thing, and people would know what it is that's on offer," he was quoted as saying by The Irish Sun tabloid.

Dustin's comments reflect a widespread view that the Lisbon Treaty, designed to reform EU institutions after recent expansion of the bloc, is incomprehensible.

Ireland is the only country in the...