Druk op Chirac om Grondwet-referendum in Frankrijk te houden neemt toe (en)

Pressure is mounting on French President Jacques Chirac to hold a referendum on the European Constitution after influential finance minister Nicolas Sarkozy joined the clamour for a popular vote on the issue.

Mr Sarkozy, who is widely seen as a potential successor to Mr Chirac, said yesterday (9 May), "I do not see how it would be possible to tell the French people that the European Constitution is a major document and to then draw the conclusion that it should be adopted by parliamentarians, without taking the trouble directly to ask the people's opinion".

But Mr Chirac, who has the final say on the issue, was quick to react.

A spokesman said, "The President of the Republic will take his decision when the right time comes. That moment has not yet come".

He has stated on many occasions that he will not decide until the final Constitutional document is on the table - probably in June.

And Mr Sarkozy said that he would be "in line with the decision of the President, whatever that decision may be".

Blair can win, says Chirac

Meanwhile, at the regular 9 May (Schuman Day) meeting in Paris between Mr Chirac and UK prime minister Tony Blair, the president said that Mr Blair had the ability to win a referendum despite strong opposition from eurosceptics in the UK.

"Tony Blair is very convincing, he will sway public opinion", said Mr Chirac, according to the BBC.

For his part, Mr Blair said he was looking forward to promoting the Constitution and moving the debate away from "scare stories" in the media.

"You need to explain this is not something people should fear but which is progress", he said.

"The argument we have to make to people within Britain is that if we want to continue with the peace and prosperity we have enjoyed, our place is in Europe", the prime minister concluded.

Mr Blair's decision to hold a referendum on the Constitution kick-started the debate in France.