Wednesday's papers give a broad welcome to the announcement that France is to host the international nuclear fusion project, and the German press frets about the constitutional basis for Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's political manoeuvring. Further east, a Hungarian paper warns about the dangers of resurgent nationalism.

European fusion

"Europe did not die on 29 May," writes the French daily Liberation in a reference to the French No vote on the EU constitution.

"The proof is that it is preparing itself for fusion," it says, alluding to Tuesday's decision by an international consortium to designate Cadarache in France as the site for the Iter experimental nuclear fusion reactor project.

The paper sees the development as "a symbol of France's presence in essential scientific research and in tomorrow's technologies".

"This was the least that was required to persuade the entire world that, under the reign of Jacques Chirac, France will not have indefinitely turned its back to the future".

Le Monde believes the protracted international wrangling that led to the decision resulted in a "political-scientific suspense thriller".

"While Europe and France may have won the hand, Japan is not simply contenting itself with a consolation prize", the paper writes.

"By raising the stakes until the end, Tokyo obtained very substantial compensation for its withdrawal", with preferential construction contracts, a large number of permanent posts in the future international team at the site, and a complementary research programme worth some 700m euros.

The paper says that although "this preferential treatment could make certain partners gnash their teeth... perhaps Jacques Chirac's pledge to support Japan's candidacy for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council weighed in the balance".

Renewable doubts

German papers express more mixed views on the decision.

For its part, die tageszeitung is worried about the impact the project may have on the development of renewable energy.

The paper argues that nuclear fusion is an "expensive, large-scale technology" which will drain funds from activities in the field of renewable energy and energy-saving measures.

"This is a shame for Europe's energy mix, a shame for the climate and a shame for the researchers and companies working in the renewable energy field," it says.

But Der Tagesspiegel welcomes the outcome, noting that it makes sense for the participating countries to opt for France rather than Japan "since European researchers have made the biggest contribution to developing this technology".

The paper believes that the technology is an important option for the post-fossil fuel era.

"Renewable energy from wind, water and the sun can only be like colourful spots to supplement the basic supply provided by nuclear fusion," it says.

Schroeder's gamble

Turning to domestic matters, the German press expresses doubts about the constitutional basis for Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's attempt to pave the way for fresh elections by losing a vote of confidence on 1 July.

The Sueddeutsche Zeitung is categorical, arguing that Germany's constitution "does not provide for what people want politically".

"Talk about a crisis of state is exaggerated," the paper says, but adds that "the procedural dispute is symbolic of the muddle in which the country finds itself".

Berliner Zeitung notes that all parliamentary groups are effectively colluding in what the paper describes as a "violation of the constitution".

It believes that this will put President Horst Koehler in a difficult position when he is asked to dissolve the lower house.

"If he rejects the request, the constitution will have been observed, but the country will be without a government which is able to act," the paper says.

"If, on the other hand, he grants the request, he will risk his reputation."

Die Welt thinks the governing Social Democratic Party's recommendation to its MPs to abstain in the vote of confidence to ensure that the chancellor loses is irrational.

It points out that Social Democratic MPs are wondering how they can support Mr Schroeder in an election campaign if they fail to express their confidence in him. And how they can explain this to voters.

Warning signs

Hungary's Nepszabadsag contemplates the uncertain future of what it calls "democracies without welfare" in Europe.

The paper says that "democracy on its own is not attractive enough, unless it is accompanied by security or if it is something people lack".

"In the Scandinavian states, democracy is still valued because security provided by the welfare state has suffered little damage. In the Eastern European democracies, however, the erosion of illusions has been going on for years."

The paper says that "in the shadow of the demolition of the Iron Curtain" Europeans believed that there would be "no return to the mass-scale nationalism seen at the beginning of the 20th century, that it would be impossible to return to deep social inequalities or that insecurity which bred extreme views would be impossible".

But, according to the paper, "an old illusion that lasting representative democracies will create tolerant, responsible citizens is about to disappear".

"There is no major problem yet, but the warning signs are gathering", the paper thinks.