European Constitution faces first big test

The first potential pitfall in the long and difficult road towards ratifying the European Constitution will come on Wednesday (1 December) as French Socialists decide in an internal referendum whether to campaign for a "yes" or a "no" to the proposed Treaty.

The stakes are high. A Socialist "no" to the Treaty could tip the balance in a country whose voters are marginally in favour of the Constitution (60-40). If France votes "no", many have warned that the EU will be plunged into crisi...