Government Calls for Opposition Support on Referendums

The German government is seeking opposition support for a draft law to allow referendums, a move which could allow Germans to vote on the new European Union constitution, according to a statement made by Social Democrats leader Franz Müntefering. Speaking after a coalition meeting with the Greens, Müntefering said the government would write to opposition conservative and liberal parties to urge their support. German law has no provision for referendums, and a two-thirds majority is required in both German houses of parliament in order to change the country's constitution. Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has faced increasing pressure to do what Britain, France and several other EU member states have said and let the electorate decide on the bloc's proposed new constitution.