Lisbon Treaty: KDU-ČSL wants talks with opposition

Martina Macková
18. 6. 2008 16:00
President Klaus declares the Treaty doomed

Prague - After a two-week stalemate in lower house of Czech parliament, MPs have started to act again. The reason for that is the last week's rejection of the Lisbon Treaty by the Irish in a plebiscite.

Christian Democratic Party´s leaders (KDU-ČSL) are now calling on their coalition partners - Civic Democrats (ODS) and the Greens - to launch talks with the opposition about the uneasy issue.

"Consensus needed"

At their congress in Pardubice, Christian Democrats obliged themselves to vote for the treaty.

"After the Irish 'No', we see it crucial to find a consensus acceptable for all democratic parties. This is the objective of KDU-ČSL," explained the Party´s Vice Chairman Roman Línek.

"The value of the treaty lies in the fact it is being negotiated by all 27 EU-member states. This unique consensus needs to be preserved and further developed. It is not right to flee from a common project only because a problem emerged," added Línek.

Leader of the opposition Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) Jiří Paroubek already expressed his willingness to negotiate with the coalition partners. Paroubek suggested that PM Topolánek should seek a consensus with the opposition parties.

No time to lose

During the visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday, Czech PM Mirek Topolánek promised the Czech Republic would support efforts not to block the treaty reform.

Nonetheless, the Lisbon Treaty is with the Czech Constitutional Court at the moment, as requested by ODS. Civic Democrats want to know whether some of the treaty's articles breach the Czech constitution or not.

Read more: Senate risks not approving Lisbon treaty in time

Both ČSSD and KDU-ČSL, however, want to see a consensus reached prior to the Constitutional Court´s ruling.

"Dancing on the grave"

President Václav Klaus, an outspoken eurosceptic, together with a number of ODS MPs, have quickly declared the treaty doomed.

Read more: Klaus says Lisbon treaty will create a Euro-nation

"All EU countries need to agree with the treaty, and as wee see, they do not. President is right - it is possible to analyse it [the treaty], but it is not possible to continue its ratification," says Prague mayor Pavel Bém for Czech TV public service.

"President Klaus began to dance on the Lisbon Treaty's grave. It is his wish [not to ratify the Treaty], but it´s not the European reality. ODS should avoid attempts to present their official stance as a stance of the country," argued ČSSD Vice Chairman Bohuslav Sobotka.

 

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