Luxembourg voters were going to the polls yesterday over the EU's proposed constitution in what has shaped up into a tight race that could revive the moribund charter or put another nail in its coffin.
The vote, the first referendum on the draft charter since the French and Dutch turned it down a little over a month ago, will also decide the political fate of Prime Minister Jean-Calude Juncker, who has promised to resign if Luxembourg also shoots it down.
The polls opened at 8am and were to close at 2pm but results are not expected until several hours later in the mid-afternoon.
The country, which is traditionally staunchly pro-EU and which just finished its six-month presidency of the 25-nation bloc, is braced for a tight vote after support for the constitution slumped in recent months, especially after the French and Dutch votes.
The referendum comes as the political crisis that engulfed the EU following French and Dutch voters' rejection has become overshadowed by the deadly terror attacks in London's transport system on Thursday.
EU leaders declared a "period of reflection" last month to try to figure out what to do with the constitution after its rejection by the French and Dutch, leaving individual countries the option to push ahead with the ratification process.
Although a "yes" vote from the Grand Duchy's 223,000 registered voters would have little more effect than providing a sign of support for the beleaguered constitution in trying times, a "no" vote could sound its death knell.
Juncker, who after 11 years in power is Europe's longest serving head of government, has staked his considerable popularity and his job on the line in the vote, promising to quit only a year into his current term.
Speaking at his final campaign meeting on Friday, Juncker said there was no guarantee of a "yes" vote although he hoped that his country would give a new breath of life to the ailing constitution, of which he was a tireless supporter during Luxembourg's recent EU presidency.
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