French lawmakers back Sarkozy's constitution rewrite

[Hugabear]

Source: Forbes

PARIS (Thomson Financial) - French lawmakers on Monday narrowly voted through Nicolas Sarkozy's plans to rewrite the constitution, which the president says will make France more democratic.

The deputies and senators meeting in a special congress in the chateau of Versailles voted 539 for and 357 against, meaning that the bill scraped through by just one vote as a three-fifths majority was needed.

The bill sets a two-term limit for presidents, gives parliament a veto over some presidential appointments, ends government control over parliament's committee system and allows parliament to set its own agenda.

But the opposition Socialists warned that it would turn France into a 'monocracy.'



Read more: http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/07/21/afx5235864.html

[WriteDown]

1. Always in favor or term limits...

Not sure about some of the other fine points. Maybe some posters more familiar with French government can comment.

[Hugabear]

4. I don't know too much about Sarkozy, but what I do know makes me uncomfortable

The fact that he's so willing to turn himself into *'s European lapdog tells me a lot about him. And if he's doing a rewrite of their Constitution, I have to wonder what's not being reported so far.

[Hydra]

2. No real details in the article

Which is unfortunate. I don't trust Sarkozy, and the narrow margin has me wondering if this is like those "Venezuela is a dictatorship and we are the Greatest Nation on Earth!" pieces.

[onehandle]

3. Sounds like they are trying to cripple smaller parties and become more American.

Bigger parties would get an uneven amount of power like our two party system.

Socialists are likely losers in this scenario.

[TankLV]

5. Why is is that it's always ONLY the asshole conservatives that ask for changes?

Just once, just once, I wish it would be the LEFT that would suggest and be in the position to mandate any changes...

First the UNELECTED and MINORITY bunkerboy and the repukes with the Patriot Act and other krap, and now this...

This stinks from the onset...