Sarkozy wants deficit cut to shore up euro

PARIS, July 26 (UPI) -- President Nicolas Sarkozy appealed to France's Parliament Tuesday to tackle the deficit to help save the euro.

"To succeed in this endeavor, to lead our partners with us ... France must set an example by putting in order its public accounts and economy," he wrote in a letter to all members of both houses reported by Radio France Internationale.

"In France in the coming months we need to unite on essential issues and get over partisan interests," the president said.

Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have been leading efforts to avert a Greek default and stabilize the European currency.

The opposition Socialists oppose his proposals to amend the constitution to force a balanced budget.