HUNGARY BECOMES SECOND NATION TO RATIFY EU CONSTITUTION

Hungary became the second country to ratify the European Union`s constitution after parliament overwhelmingly voted Tuesday to back the text, which aims to streamline the workings of the 25-member EU. The vote crossed party lines as 322 lawmakers cast ballots in favor of ratifying the constitution with 12 against and eight abstaining. A total of 43 were absent. The backing of a two-thirds majority of the 385 legislators was needed in order for the text to pass.