03/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - During a joint meeting with the delegation from the French National Assembly for the European Union, on 30 November in Paris, the Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs at the House of Representatives of the Czech Republic, Pavel Svoboda, explained why the referendum on the Constitutional Treaty should not be held in his country before June 2006. Concerned about the fact that legislative elections are so close (they may be held just before and "distort" the result of the referendum), Pavel Svoboda felt that the timetable set could promote ratification if many States have ratified the Constitution at the time when the Czech Republic gives its position. The parties in power (Social Democrats, Christian Democrats and Democratic Union - Union of Liberty) are in favour. In the opposition, the Civic Democratic Party could be in favour but the Communist Party is opposed to ratification.