![Chirac tries to salvage EU constitution vote in TV town hall meeting](https://www.jurist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/jurist-white-text.png)
[JURIST] Fighting off a barrage of opposition to the agreement, French President Jacques Chirac embarked Thursday on a campaign to save the proposed European Union constitution [official website; treaty text] from defeat in an upcoming national referendum. With the anti-treaty position slightly ahead in opinion polls, Chirac hosted a "town hall meeting" on the referendum with 83 young people on prime-time French TV. Chirac stated that the treaty could not be renegotiated if France rejects it, but added that he would not resign if apparently-growing opposition to the constitution [JURIST report] prevails in the May 29 vote. Watch recorded video of the meeting via Paris TF1 television. Reuters has more.