Luxembourg to go on with EU constitution referendum as PM puts job on line News
Luxembourg to go on with EU constitution referendum as PM puts job on line

[JURIST] Luxembourg leaders say they will stick to their original plan for a July 10 referendum on the embattled European Union constitution [JURIST news archive]. Following popular rejection of the charter in France and the Netherlands, seven other European countries have thusfar postponed similar votes [JURIST report] and the ratification deadline has been extended to at least 2007 [JURIST report]. Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker [official website], whose country has held the EU Presidency [official website] for the past tumultuous six months, says he will resign [AFP report] if his country votes against it. Opinion polls show the issue getting tighter, with the Yes side holding a 10-point lead, down from 18 points since May. Xinhua has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

South Africa becomes first country on continent to legalize same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriages became legal in South Africa on November 30, 2006 as the country's Civil Union Act, 2006 went into effect, making South Africa the only country on the African continent to legalize same-sex marriage. Read the Civil Union Act, 2006.