[autom.vertaling] Chirac raadpleegt Franse partijleiders over referendum (en)

French president Jacques Chirac held a round of talks on Tuesday (28 October) on the future European Constitution with leaders of the French political parties.

While the new Constitution is under negotiation between EU governments, the talks at Palais de l'Elysée were focused on the ratification procedure.

The Constitution could be adopted by referendum in France or ratified by a three-fifths majority in both chambers of the French Congress.

Meeting the President on Tuesday, Philippe de Villiers, president of Mouvement pour la France, demanded that a referendum should be held on the Constitution.

"It is unthinkable that the French people, who were called to adopt the Constitution of the Fifth Republic by referendum should not be called to adopt the new Constitution that will replace it by referendum", Mr de Villiers said, according to Yahoo France.

Mr de Villier said he did not feel that President Jacques Chirac is particularly enthusiastic about holding a referendum - but that the decision had not yet been made.

Too early for Chirac

President Chirac explained, according to Mr de Villiers, that it was too early to decide on the matter "as the negotiations are ongoing and the final text of the Constitution not known".

The leader of the Communists (PC) Marie-George Buffet, Jean-Pierre Chevènement (MRC), Gilles Lemaire (Greens), Jean-Michel Baylet (PRG) and François Bayrou (UDF) all spoke in favour of a referendum on the Constitution .

Today, (29 October), the consultation ends with the leader of the Socialists (PS) François Hollande and Alain Juppé (UMP) who have been called to meet President Chirac.

The Socialist party also supports a referendum but is deeply split over whether to recommend a yes or a no to the Constitution.

Jean-Marie Le Pen, the ultra-right politician was not invited to the talks, but he is known to support a referendum.