Visiting Czech President welcomes French and Dutch rejection
Václav Klaus calls vote "victory for freedom and democracy"
|
|
|
"The EU has existed for decades without a constitution, and can certainly continue [without it] in the future", said Czech President Václav Klaus in Helsinki on Thursday.
Klaus, the most notorious Eurosceptic among the new EU member states, is on an official visit to Finland. At a press conference with Finnish President Tarja Halonen, he made no effort to conceal his satisfaction with the results of the French and Dutch referendums.
"I think that they are a victory for democracy and freedom in Europe."
The Czech Republic has not yet decided whether or not to hold a referendum on the proposed constitution, but the country could well join the ranks of the opponents of the treaty.
The constitution issue has led to a somewhat curious power struggle in the Czech Republic, pitting the right-of-centre President against the new Social Democratic Prime Minister Jiři Paroubek.
The Czech government is in favour of the constitution, and it recently even threatened to stop the President from travelling abroad if he does not desist from expressing views on the EU that are at odds with those of the government.
Under the Czech constitution, the role of the President is a ceremonial one.
Czech domestic politics are somewhat chaotic in other respects as well, and the country has had problems in holding a coalition government together. Klaus nevertheless said in Helsinki on Thursday that he does not think that the open disagreements between himself and the Prime Minister hurt the country’s image.
Václav Klaus is a very controversial figure at home. He has many enthusiastic supporters, but as one Czech journalist said, people either love him or hate him.
There is also something contradictory in his opposition to the constitution, as he himself represents the very things that led many French and Dutch voters to vote "no".
Described as a Thatcherite free market advocate, Klaus implemented tough economic reforms when he served as Prime Minister in the early 1990s. He says that he opposes the EU constitution because history (ie. the Soviet occupation) has taught him to appreciate independence.
Klaus concludes his visit to Finland today in Turku.
Helsingin Sanomat
|
| 3.6.2005 - TODAY |
 Visiting Czech President welcomes French and Dutch rejection
|
|
