The first potential pitfall in the long and difficult road towards ratifying the European Constitution will come on Wednesday (1 December)

The first potential pitfall in the long and difficult road towards ratifying the European Constitution will come on Wednesday (1 December) as French Socialists decide in an internal referendum whether to campaign for a "yes" or a "no" to the proposed Treaty. The stakes are high. A Socialist "no" to the Treaty could tip the balance in a country whose voters are marginally in favour of the Constitution (60-40). If France votes "no", many have warned that the EU will be plunged into crisis. On a recent visit to Britain, French President Jacques Chirac warned that France could reject the Treaty if the Socialists decide to campaign against it. On the other hand, a Socialist "yes" makes a French "yes" much more likely and may embolden Mr Chirac to hold a general referendum on the Treaty as early as May next year. Leaders from Brussels and around the EU will be keeping a nervous eye on the result – expected on Thursday morning. The leaders of Germany, Spain and the Czech Republic have already published an open letter in Le Monde, urging the Socialists to say yes to the Constitution.