May 26 (Bloomberg) -- French opposition to the European Union constitution rose to 54 percent, a TNS-Sofres Unilog poll showed, suggesting voters in Europe's third-biggest economy may sink the new EU rulebook in a May 29 referendum.

Opposition increased from 53 percent 12 days ago, the Sofres poll of 1,000 people on May 23-24 for Le Monde newspaper, LCI television and RTL radio showed. No margin of error was given. Support dropped to 46 percent from 47 percent. Twenty percent of those polled didn't express an opinion.

Surveys since May 10 by France's six leading polling companies show the ``no'' vote in the lead. A defeat in France would kill the treaty, which requires unanimous EU support. The euro and Eastern European bonds may fall if the French reject the constitution because it may slow European integration, economists including Emmanuel Ferry at Exane BNP Paribas in Paris have said.

In a last-ditch attempt to persuade voters, President Jacques Chirac is planning a television appeal at 8 p.m. in Paris. A slowing economy and a 10.2 percent jobless rate, the highest since 1999, are feeding frustration with the government.

The EU constitution, intended to streamline decision-making following the union's expansion to 25 members from 15 last year, would create a permanent president and foreign minister and increase the role of the European Parliament.

Eighty-two percent of those surveyed by Sofres said they have made their final choice, up 5 points from the May 11-12 Sofres poll.

Fifty-two percent of those polled said a rejection of the treaty will probably or surely lead to the renegotiation of the constitution leading to a more ``social,'' text, Sofres said. Sixty-three percent said a ``no'' victory won't weaken economy growth and job creation in France, rejecting a point made by Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin yesterday.

To contact the reporter on this story: Francois de Beaupuy in Paris at fdebeaupuy@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: May 26, 2005 03:58 EDT