PARIS (MNI) – French Prime Minister Francois Fillon Tuesday called
for a public referendum on a constitutional amendment for balanced
public finances, the French daily Le Monde reported, citing sources in
the governing UMP party.
Speaking to UMP lawmakers, the prime minister noted the commitment
of those EU member states, including France, which back the Fiscal
Compact requiring that such a rule be anchored in national legislation
by the middle of this year, the newspaper said.
However, as the opposition Socialist Party has so far rejected
repeated appeals by the government for a “golden rule” for public
finances, the three-fifths majority of Parliament required for an
amendment would be lacking.
Socialist presidential candidate Francois Hollande, who is leading
in polls of voters’ intentions, has acknowledged the need for such an
amendment after the elections this spring.
Public opinion polls suggest that most of the French favor stricter
EU surveillance of national budgets and a golden rule for their
constitution. At the same time, there is also majority support for
Hollande’s pledge to renegotiate the Fiscal Compact to add measures to
bolster economic activity.
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