New polls show French voters rejecting EU charter

PARIS - A majority of French voters plan to reject the European Union constitution in a referendum on May 29 but the "No" camp's lead over the "Yes" campaign has narrowed, according to two opinion polls published on Tuesday.

Nine successive surveys have now shown more than 50 per cent of voters oppose the treaty, mainly due to discontent with the government's economic and social policies, raising the prospect of France rejecting the charter and plunging the EU into crisis.

A survey by the CSA polling group showed 53 per cent of respondents would vote against the constitution, intended to simplify decision making in the EU following its enlargement to 25 member states. It found 47 per cent would vote for it.

The poll of 865 people of voting age, published in Le Parisien newspaper, was conducted on March 30 and 31. A similar CSA poll carried out a week earlier showed 55 per cent of voters would oppose the constitution and 45 per cent would back it.

A second poll, published in Le Figaro newspaper, also showed the "No" camp losing momentum.

The survey of 947 people by the Ipsos research group, conducted on April 1 and 2, found 52 per cent of respondents would oppose the constitution and 48 per cent would support it.

A previous Ipsos poll a week ago showed 54 per cent of voters would oppose the charter and 46 per cent would back it.

Giacometti said support for the constitution had steadied among supporters of President Jacques Chirac's centre-right Union for a Political Movement (UMP). Previous polls had pointed to a slight fall among UMP voters.

"The reaffirmation of the 'Yes' was seen on April 2, the day Pope Jean-Paul II died," said Pierre Giacometti, head of Ipsos.

"An event that is so exceptional helps create a consensus."

Millions of French people are Roman Catholics.

Opposition among left-wing voters remained firm, he said, even though the leadership of the opposition Socialist Party broadly backs the constitution.

Seven other polls in the last three weeks have put the "No" campaign ahead. They have put the number of people planning to vote against the treaty in a range of 51 to 55 per cent.

The treaty requires the support of all 25 member states to go into force. Spain has already approved the treaty in a referendum but France will pose a much bigger obstacle.

- REUTERS