French Senate approves Sarkozy reform bill

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PARIS, Jul 17(AFP): The French Senate Thursday gave the green light to reform bills backed by President Nicolas Sarkozy to overhaul the constitution, opening the path for final approval by both houses of parliament.

Senators voted 162 to 125, with the governing parties in favour and the opposition of Socialists, Communists and Greens opposed to the reform package.

The 331 members of the Senate and 577 deputies of the lower-house National Assembly will now meet in Versailles, west of Paris, for a so-called congress opening Monday.

Sarkozy championed the bill, which is to boost the powers of parliament, set a two-term limit for presidents and allow the head of state to defend his policies before parliament.

"If this reform fails, it will be a failure for everyone, first and foremost for democracy, for parliament and for the rights of citizens," Sarkozy has warned in an interview to Le Monde newspaper.

To become law the text requires final approval from three fifths of lawmakers at the special meeting of both houses of parliament, meaning that Sarkozy will need support across party lines.

Sarkozy offered to grant the Socialist opposition a right to respond on television to presidential addresses and guarantee equal time for the opposition and the majority in parliamentary debates.