Who will lead the EU? Maybe even eurosceptic Klaus
The political parties are afraid of eurosceptic President Klaus taking over the reigns of the EU and are looking for a suitable ‘euro-assistant’ for new Prime Minister Fischer.
The Czech Republic appointed a new Prime Minister yesterday and Europe is asking who will take over the office of the EU Presidency.
Czech politicians are clear on this: Jan Fischer. It could be however that President Václav Klaus takes over the reigns, which is a big worry for Czech politics.
The Constitution is unclear on what should happen. On one side it states that it is the government which leads the country. On the other hand it adds that the President of the Republic represents the country in external matters.
Politicians are hastily trying to find an ideal candidate for the position of the new Minister for European Affairs. This would be a person who could not only continue the Czech EU Presidency but also ‘support’ new Prime Minister Jan Fischer in his dealings with the EU.
Černý isn't afraid anymore
Embattled Mirek Topolánek has found a new ally against President Klaus - David Černý. The sculptor caused a small scandal a couple of months ago with his plastic ‘Entropa’ which included a representation of Bulgaria as a Turkish toilet, something for which he has since apologised in Brussels.
He was less diplomatic at a recent European conference on creativity held in Prague: ‘what’s a few Bulgarian assholes in Entropa compared to the big asshole sitting in Prague Castle’ criticising the government?
David Černý is interesting material for study of the crowd phenomena. To insult Klaus in the circles in which Černý moves is the easiest thing in the world. Society, in a large city especially, is divided into various layers and sub-cultures so that we can rail against an abstract group whilst never actually meeting any representative of that group. We live happily in our little world and cultivate it’s partialities and prejudices.
The problem can arise when a non-conformist arrives in unknown territory (Brussels), where they’re a little out of their depth. All at once it’s not certain whether or not the crowd against which they’ve safely railed from a distance, is represented in the group before them.
Luckily there’s a way to compensate for such an unpleasant experience and get your old confidence back on home soil. That’s the case here with Černý and Klaus. Someone returns from work where they once again didn’t stand up to their boss and screams at their wife instead.
Daniel Kaiser Lidové noviny
Klaus: whoever is able to bring me 101 signatures from parliament will be Prime Minister
President Václav Klaus doesn’t want a government in demise to run the country for long, just until the end of the EU Czech Presidency or until early elections can be called.
After a meeting with departing Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek he stated that the new government must be founded on fundamental political agreement from Parliament. ‘Whoever is able to gather the support of 101 signatories from the lower house, I’ll give them the opportunity to establish a government,’ said Klaus.
Klaus’s 3 Principles:
1. The solution must be quick - the current economic crisis and our European Presidency require a competent and fully working government.
2. I won’t accept half measures - that is to remain in the current state of uncertainty about which there has been speculation.
3. I’m prepared only to name a government which will be founded on political agreement from the Chamber of Deputies (lower house). - For me personally, and for the Czech public, the establishment of a government through defection doesn’t come into the equation. The way in which the last government came about is what let us to the situation today.
ČSSD Chairman Jiří Paroubek reacted to the President’s recommendations regarding the founding of a new government by saying that he won’t be trying to obtain 101 signatures from parliament. ‘It will be very difficult for anyone to try to fulfil the President’s conditions,’ he said.
Prague Castle: President Klaus accepted Topolánek’s resignation at 3pm today.
Topolánek: They're celebrating the fall of the government at the Castle
The fall of the Czech government was celebrated by rivals from both home and abroad according to Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek (ODS). He further specified, in a Czech Radio broadcast, that it had been the Czech President Václav Klaus (ODS Chairman until the end of last year), Prague Mayor Pavel Bém and Russian leaders celebrating. According to Topalánek they were happier with the outcome than the rival social democrat party (ČSSD) who incited the no-confidence vote.
