Close vote expected in Luxembourg EU constitution referendum Sunday News
Close vote expected in Luxembourg EU constitution referendum Sunday

[JURIST] Despite earlier indications that it would be approved [Deutsche Welle report], observers now aren't sure which way Luxembourg will vote on the EU Constitution [JURIST news archive] in this Sunday's national referendum [official website, in French]. Other countries have postponed similar votes [JURIST report] and the ratification deadline was extended to at least 2007 [JURIST report] after the pact failed in France and the Netherlands, but Luxembourg announced it would hold its referendum as scheduled [JURIST report]. Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker [official website] held the rotating 6-month EU presidency that just ended June 30 [Luxembourg EU Presidency website] and has promised to resign [EU Business report] if his country votes No. As France's rejection of the treaty was seen as a vote against President Jacques Chirac rather than the treaty itself, Juncker is hoping his personal popularity will carry the treaty to approval. EUobserver has more.