The new treaty has the backing of President Nicolas Sarkozy’s ruling UMP party and the French leader is hoping for a speedy ratification before France takes on the EU presidency later on in July.
Most MPs from the Socialist party abstained but another 560 MPs and senators voted in favour of the amendment. Only 181 were in opposition and so it readily gained the necessary 60% margin required.
French opinion polls, however, suggested that the majority of voters would like to see another referendum, and a defeat in such a referendum is what Nicolas Sarkozy is believed to have feared.
A final vote on the matter of the treaty is due to be held in the French National Assembly on Wednesday and at the Senate on Thursday later this week.
