Kölner Stadtanzeiger (translation my own): “The Bundestag (German Federal Parliament) approved the EU constitution with an overwhelming majority of 95.8 percent (significantly more than the necessary 2/3 majority -Ed.). In a role-call vote, … 569 members voted in favor of the ratification bill, with 23 opposed…”
The vote was proceeded by very little public debate. One opposing group submitted a petition containing some 21,000 signatures; on the other side, both organized labor and business organizations voiced support for approval.
The matter now goes to the Federal Council (which is made up of the state governments), which is expected to grant its consent on 27 May, thereby formally ratifying the constitution.
(A referendum as in e.g. France was never an option as this is not an instrument recognized in Germany’s Basic Law).
