Franse premier Raffarin verwacht geen referendum in eerste helft 2005 (en)

In a sign that the French government may be rowing back from their desire to hold an early referendum on the European Constitution, French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin has said that holding a vote in six months would be "very difficult".

Speaking on French television on the eve of the signing in Rome of the Constitutional Treaty, Mr Raffarin said, "it will be very difficult to do in six months", noting that "to send the text to the French people will need more than six months".

When French President Jacques Chirac originally called a referendum on the issue, it was expected to be held "in the second half of 2005", but speculation has grown recently that the vote could be held as soon as May next year.

Mr Chirac is thought to favour an early referendum so that the two issues of the Constitution and Turkey's entry into the EU do not become confused in voters' minds.

In addition, a campaign to persuade the French people to vote in favour of the text could lose momentum if it is too long.

But there is an added legal obstacle in the path of an early referendum. The French Constitutional Court must examine the implications for the French Constitution, which it may only begin to do after the Treaty is officially signed today (29 October).

The Court may not have concluded its deliberations by the Spring.

The first referendum among the member states is expected to be held in Spain which has already set a definite date - 20 February - although Italy is keen to be first to ratify the Treaty in its Parliament by Christmas.