Chirac, Schroeder push for EU constitution

The leaders of France and Germany today pleaded for a “yes” vote in the closely-fought upcoming French referendum on the European Union’s constitution, with President Jacques Chirac warning a “no” would diminish French clout in the bloc it helped build.

“If we vote “no” we take the responsibility for interrupting 50 years of European construction,” said Chirac, speaking at a joint press conference with Germany’s Gerhard Schroeder.