The maize producers of the region learnt during the Gatt world-trade talks of the necessity of a strong Europe standing as a bloc.The farmers had to battle to stop US access to their markets. In Aquitaine, US economic power is viewed with far greater suspicion than any German giant. The people joke here that they have always resisted the centralising diktat of Paris – never mind Brussels – and some say that the region has never been more content than during its period of relative autonomy under English Plantagenet rule.But very few in Aquitaine – or anywhere in France – would describe themselves as anti-European. “If we voted here tomorrow for a new Maastricht we would have difficulty.”Last week, in his proposals for the Inter-Governmental Conference on European reform which begins in Turin next week, Mr Juppe appeared to heed the message from Bordeaux, reaffirming the pre- eminence of the “nation-state”.The nature of Bordelais Euro-scepticism would be both familiar and puzzling to a sceptic Briton. They fear more and more about losing their identity,” says Jean-Pierre Bebear, a Juppe supporter, member of the European Parliament, and a Bordeaux doctor.

The fact that Alain Juppe, the Prime Minister in France’s Gaullist government, is Mayor of Bordeaux drew huge angry crowds to the city.The cuts were linked to France’s need to meet convergence criteria for monetary union, and, while demonstrations were not specifically aimed at Brussels, the strength of the protests and the widespread support they won across the social spectrum revealed a general malaise about Europe.”Many people here now see Maastricht as a constraint; as rules and interference. Qu’est-ce que c’est que ca?” he booms.Throughout the region of Aquitaine, there is a spreading unease about the way that Europe appears to be dictating unwelcome change, and it crosses the political divide.Bordeaux, the capital of Aquitaine, was the scene of massive demonstrations against cuts in public-service spending last year. And now, what is this we hear? They want to limit our hunting season Have they not got better things to do? This is our culture. Who are the technocrats to say when a man can shoot a pigeon.

So penetrating is his throaty invective that it seems to echo far across the strawberry fields of the Garonne valley. Roads around Boe will be splattered pink with strawberry juice again next month, Mr Saint-Martin warns, when French farmers try to halt cheap Spanish strawberries flooding in across the borders. Sir Leon Brittan (a name he utters with evident disgust) wants to open French markets to all the world. “For the benefit of whom – the multinationals?
“Europe must be strong, yes I believe in Europe I voted Yes to Maastricht, ” he says “But today I would certainly vote No The people are no longer heard We will not be told what to do by technocrats in Brussels. Listening to Guy Saint-Martin attack les technocrates de Bruxelles and les ultra-liberaux, it is hard to believe that the Socialist mayor of Boe cannot make his voice heard in the European Union capital. However, there is also the question of the use of what may be the President’s greatest asset of all – the name of Mandela.Winnie is claiming that she is entitled to half of the President’s estate, which has been estimated by some South African newspapers at pounds 15m. Possibly of even greater importance is her claim to the Mandela name, which she now uses appended after her maiden name of Madikizela.Many observers believe she will run in the presidential election in 1999, when Mr Mandela has said he will step down..