Brussels, 22/09/2004 (Agence Europe) - When asked about Laurent Fabius's appeal to vote "no" at the French referendum on the European Constitution, the French Minister for the Interior Dominique de Villepin said: "I have not given up hope that Laurent Fabius will change his mind (...) Good sense will lead him to do so". Appearing on the France 3 TV programme France Europe Express presented by Christine Ockrent on 21 September, Mr de Villepin said that Laurent Fabius could be something of a rabble-rouser on this issue.
According to a CSA survey carried out for France 3, if a referendum on the Constitution was to take place in France next Sunday, the "yes" vote would win, with 67% of the vote (against 33% for the "no" vote), but 59% of respondents replied that they would either abstain or spoil their ballot paper. The figures are the same for the Socialists, in spite of the stance taken by Laurent Fabius.