SPD Plans Referendum Law Reform

Germany's ruling Social Democratic Party plans a law change to allow citizens or the government to call referendums, according to an article in the Die Welt newspaper which cited SPD leader Franz Müntefering. A draft of the law would be discussed in parliament in October or November so that a referendum could be held on the planned European constitution, the paper reported. If agreed, Germany will join France and the U.K. as some of the 25 European Union nations that have already said they will hold a referendum on the constitution.