France's National Assembly began a debate on the European Union's new constitution Tuesday, as three more opinion polls showed opponents winning the country's referendum on May 29. Over the last two weeks a total of nine surveys have put the "no" camp in front, at between 51 and 55 percent of voters. None has given the lead to supporters of the constitution. An Ipsos poll in Le Figaro newspaper Tuesday put opposition to the constitution at 52 percent; a CSA poll for France 3 television put it at 53 percent; and Louis Harris for the Liberation newspaper gave the "no" 54 percent. The polls also indicated that between a quarter and a third of people who intend to cast a vote are undecided - with a majority of these tending towards a "yes" vote. Opening the evening debate in the lower house of parliament, Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said the referendum "is a choice between an opening for the future and the impasse of the present ... Saying yes to the new Europe means saying yes to France, because a no vote would weaken France." But Communist party (PCF) national secretary Marie-George Buffet said a "no" vote was a "vote for hope in Europe. The constitution would deepen the furrow that has been dug for decades, by inscribing liberalism in marble. The wonderful idea of Europe has served as a Trojan horse for the most unrestrained liberalism," she said.
| "Reactionaryism is tres cooler. It's the new black." |
| "But we advise that they not take that chance...change is s-c-a-r-y." |
The constitution is intended to streamline decision-making in the 25-member union, but will not come into effect unless it is ratified in every country. A rejection in so important a country as France would stop it in its tracks.