Chirac calls for referendum on EU constitution


Putting to rest months of speculation, French President Jacques Chirac on Wednesday pledged to organize a referendum on ratifying the European Union's first constitution in the second half of 2005.

"I have confidence in the French" that they will not reject the constitution, Chirac said during a wide-ranging interview on Bastille Day, France's national holiday. . . .


He called for a strengthening of the French civil contract known as PACS for gay couples, as opposed to "a parody of marriage", in the wake of the country's first gay wedding performed last month