French Threaten Farm Trade Veto
A majority of lawmakers voted early today to oppose a farm trade pact between Washington and the European Community, but a lack of broad support for the government weakened efforts to kill or amend the pact.
Socialist Prime Minister Pierre Beregovoy was backed by a 301-251 margin and immediately threatened to veto the accord, which cuts government-subsidized farm exports.
But members of the main opposition bloc withheld their backing, demanding that Beregovoy take even harsher measures against the deal. The move robs the government of the broad national consensus it sought to try to force the EC to renegotiate the pact.
Beregovoy warned his European partners that France is ready to veto even if it jeopardizes the drive for European unity.
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