PARIS, May 27 (UPI) -- French President Jacques Chirac has made a passionate plea for voters to endorse the European Union constitution.
In a rare 10-minute address on state television, Chirac said the adoption of the constitutional treaty by all 25 members of the European Union would create a stronger Europe, better able to compete with the United States and China.
The country votes Sunday, with polls Friday showing a slight majority for the opposition.
Chirac said a more cohesive Europe could deal with economic and environmental challenges more effectively and better defend itself against terrorist threats.
Chirac has only made three other national announcements in his 10-year presidency -- the last two at the outbreak of the Iraq war in 2003 and after the terrorist attacks in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.
In an earlier television interview, Nicolas Sarkozy, leader of the ruling center-right UMP party, also urged voters to back the treaty, the Financial Times said.
