Ontvangst Europese Grondwet positief in Frankrijk, negatief in Verenigd Koninkrijk (en)

Opinion polls conducted over the weekend on either side of the Channel have shown a vast difference of opinion between the French and the British when it comes to the new European Constitution.

In France, a Louis Harris poll for L'Express showed that exactly two thirds of French voters would vote in favour of the new Constitution if they were asked in a referendum.

One third said they would vote against but 26 percent of those asked said they were certain to vote in such a referendum but did not say how they would vote.

However, it remains unclear whether the Constitution will be put to the vote in France. French President Jacques Chirac dogded the question in his post-summit press conference on Friday night (18 June), saying that he would take that decision "in good time".

There is certain to be a referendum in the UK on whether to ratify the new Treaty but two seperate opinion polls show the level of disagreement with the text and the size of the task confronting prime minister Tony Blair as he begins his drive to sell the Constitution to the people.

The first poll - by ICM for the Sunday Express - showed that 57 percent would vote "no" to the Constitution in a referendum, compared to 28 percent sure to vote "yes". Only 14 percent were unsure of how they would vote.

The second - by YouGov for the Sunday Times - showed the no vote ahead by 49 percent to 23 percent.

The exact timing of a referendum in the UK is unclear but most people expect it to be held after the next General Election, which itself is expected in May 2005.

Mr Blair may use the momentum from an expected third election victory to call a referendum in the spring or summer of 2006.