Ook tweede opiniepeiling geeft meerderheid voor 'nee'-kamp in Frankrijk (en)

A second poll has shown a majority of French voters are against the European Constitution, seemingly confirming a shift in public opinion against the document ahead of the 29 May referendum.

The survey of 860 people, conducted by IPSOS for Le Figaro, showed that 52 percent of people who said they were certain to vote would vote no in the referendum, compared to 48 percent intending to vote yes.

This appeared to confirm a turnaround in French public opinion that was suggested by a poll on Friday, which also showed the no camp forging ahead.

Opposition to the new EU charter has grown significantly in a very short space of time, the survey also indicated.

The "no" vote has risen from 40 percent to 52 percent since the last IPSOS poll in early March.

The poll also showed that the swing was coming from increasing opposition to the Constitution from the political left in France.

Amongst supporters of left-wing parties, 55 percent intend to vote no, compared to only 33 percent of right-wing supporters.

Shock waves

The latest figures, which are set to ring alarm bells in Brussels and Paris follow a spat between French President Jacques Chirac and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso i over the liberalisation of services, which has been seized upon by France's left.

Although the French socialist party's official line is in favour of the Constitution, an active and energetic faction within the party continues to advocate a "no" vote.

They argue that the best way to avoid the deeply unpopular services directive is to reject the Constitution.

Mr Barroso himself fuelled the increasing bitterness between Paris and Brussels by describing the debate in France as "skewed and biased".

And the latest figures have prompted several senior figures in French politics to press Mr Chirac to play a more active role in campaigning than he has done up until now.

All 25 member states must ratify the Treaty before it comes into force.