(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Tomorrow's referendum on the European Constitution in France could be closer than expected, according to a poll by CSA published in La Tribune de Geneve. 52 per cent of respondents would reject the proposed body of law, a three per cent drop in a day.

A team headed by former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing developed the European Constitution, which calls for the creation of an European Union (EU) president and foreign minister, as well as a reduction in the number of European commissioners. The document also seeks to simplify overlapping treaties and protocols, enhance decision-making within the EU, and enable a sense of belonging among continental citizens. EU heads of state officially signed the European Constitution on Oct. 29, 2004.

The nationwide referendum on the European Constitution will take place tomorrow. France and seven other member states will hold plebiscites to ratify the document, while the remaining countries will leave the decision to their respective legislative branches. Nine nations have already endorsed the constitution.

The governing centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) and the centre-left Socialist Party (PS) are both in favour of the European Constitution. The Communist Party (PC) and the right-wing National Front (FN) have rejected the proposed body of law.

The constitution requires ratification from all member states to come into effect in November 2006. According to a story published in British newspaper The Times, UMP president Nicolas Sarkozy has privately told prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin that the plebiscite "is lost." Sarkozy's press aide Franck Louvrier denied the comments.

Polling Data

If the referendum on the ratification of European Constitution project were held next Sunday, how would you vote?
(Decided Voters Only)

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