Zapatero to join Schroder in pressing French to vote yes on EU constitution

MADRID - Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero of Spain will join German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder in pressing the French to vote in favor of the referendum for the European Constitution on May 29, a government source said Friday.
They planned to speak in favour of the text at a German regional electoral meeting in Dusseldorf on May 20 after which Zapatero was to attend a rally in the northern French city of Lille on May 27.
Opinion polls showed the French 'yes' camp creeping ahead, with one poll Friday suggesting that 52 percent support of voters would support the constitution, which is intended to adapt the European Union for an expanded membership of 25 or more members.
Spain ratified the constitution in a referendum in February. Germany's lower house of parliament overwhelmly approved the treaty on Thursday.

05/13/2005 13:50 GMT