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The Czech Republic has emerged as the European Union’s top procrastinator in the Lisbon Treaty ratification process. {mosimage} After all other 26 member states voted on the document as planned, local lawmakers awaited a decision by the Constitutional Court, which postponed its ruling to Nov. 26 after an inconclusive hearing on the previous day. The treaty was submitted to the court in April by the Senate, which claimed it infringes on national sovereignty. In a speech at the Nov. 25 hearing, Klaus urged judges to reject the document. “Even your jobs are at stake,” he said. “It is imperative for the treaty not to be ratified, as it infringes upon our national sovereignty and the rights of each individual.”
Klaus said he would not sign the treaty even if the court deemed it constitutional and both chambers of Parliament passed it, claiming that approval was senseless unless Ireland reversed its “no” vote. “I have no reason to be another European to urge Ireland to do something,” he said. “Simply, no change can occur without Ireland changing its position.” If the court deems the treaty unconstitutional, the constitution will most likely have to be changed. “It has been done before,” said Charles University political analyst Tomáš Hubený, referring to a series of laws that were passed to enable the Czech Republic’s 2004 EU accession.
If the Lisbon Treaty passes through the Constitutional Court, swift ratification is expected to follow, as the two largest parliamentary parties — the ruling Civic Democratic Party and the opposition Social Democratic Party — have agreed to a ceasefire for the duration of the Czech EU presidency in 2009. “Ratification of the Lisbon Treaty is almost certainly part of that package,” said Hubený.
If the two parties collaborate on this issue, they will easily command a constitutional majority in Parliament, enabling treaty ratification without Klaus’ signature. “We have only two options: either sign the Lisbon Treaty or become once again vassals of Moscow,” wrote Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek in a Nov. 20 editorial. “We can criticize the EU, but it’s always better to be a part of it than to be left behind.”
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