French president Jacques Chirac emphasized economics and the environment on Thursday in a 10-minute television address to the nation to urge the French to vote in favor of the European constitution on Sunday.

He said that a united Europe would deal with challenges such as those affecting the environment and the economy, as well as issues surrounding terrorism, more effectively but said that a “no” vote on the constitution would lead to a breakdown of European unity.

He took this nearly unprecedented step - he has only made four other national television addresses of this kind in his ten years as president - including after the 9/11 attacks and at the outbreak of the Iraq war - in the face of polls showing that the majority of French voters plan to vote “no”.

The perceived opposition to the constitution has sent the euro to a seven-month low. The secretary of France’s socialist party, also urging a “yes” vote on the constitution, told voters that they must differentiate between discontent with their government at home and their status as Europeans.

Tags: European Union News //