Czech President Vaclav Klaus, a committed EU opponent, has made headlines several times this year for likening the EU to "a communist state" and for urging skeptics across Europe to unite in opposing the Lisbon Treaty. But even in the Czech Republic, a new day might be dawning. Klaus's position as president is mostly ceremonial, and on Wednesday the highest Czech court removed a significant obstacle for the Lisbon Treaty by declaring the agreement to be compatible with the Czech constitution. If the Czech parliament manages to push it through, the treaty would still need Klaus's signature for final approval. Even the cantankerous Klaus has indicated in the past that he would sign the document if the Czech Republic were the only country left holding up the treaty's ratification. That would seem to throw the ball back into Ireland's court, but the Irish economy continuing to tank, the world may soon get to call Klaus's bluff. Europe's dream of ever-closer union might be happen sooner than we think.
But even in the Czech Republic, a new day might be dawning. Klaus's position as president is mostly ceremonial, and on Wednesday the highest Czech court removed a significant obstacle for the Lisbon Treaty by declaring the agreement to be compatible with the Czech constitution. If the Czech parliament manages to push it through, the treaty would still need Klaus's signature for final approval.
Even the cantankerous Klaus has indicated in the past that he would sign the document if the Czech Republic were the only country left holding up the treaty's ratification. That would seem to throw the ball back into Ireland's court, but the Irish economy continuing to tank, the world may soon get to call Klaus's bluff. Europe's dream of ever-closer union might be happen sooner than we think.
(the original comment is here.) Truth unfolds in time through a communal process.
jv: Maybe he does not want to be remembered by the annals of history to be the One who went against the tide and killed the treaty. On the other hand, he might.
Did you see the article on Klaus that the New York Times did on Tuesday: "A Fiery Czech Is Poised to Be the Face of Europe"? Made him sound rather headstrong and ... passionate. Do you find the article to be fair? Truth unfolds in time through a communal process.
I always remember one sentence from an answer he gave when he was giving a talk at some university. "Those.. HUMANISTS, they don't think in derivations"
