"Panicked Chirac may call early vote on EU
By John Lichfield in Paris
18 February 2005
President Jacques Chirac may consult all French political parties in the next few days on an early date for France's referendum on the European Union constitution.
Faced with opinion polls, published and unpublished, showing a draining of support for the treaty, M. Chirac is said to be considering a referendum on 22 May, instead of in early or mid June.
.....On the right, although formally supported by all mainstream parties, the treaty is seen by some as an erosion of national sovereignty. Despite a government promise that Turkish membership would be put to a separate vote, many right-wing politicians argue that a vote against the constitution would be the best way to kill Turkish membership stone dead."
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