Czech press survey - September 24

Klaus is right when saying that European federalists have doubled their effort, using Europeans' current anguish to implement their political intentions, Komarek writes.

However, it is difficult to presage the outcome of the effort, he adds.

Klaus's conviction that federalisation means the demise of sovereignty and democracy is nonsense, Komarek writes.

On the other hand, this does not mean that the federation would be a good thing and that it is possible, he adds.

The attempts at creating a united Europe through agreement or power have always failed, Komarek writes.

The effort at creating the federation can fail again and destroy the building of the European Union and push the continent back to the era of warring states, he adds.

This may happen if the process creates the feeling of threat in one or two local powers, Komarek writes.

It is no surprise that President Vaclav Klaus has warned of the destruction of democracy in the European Union as this is his favourite theme, Zbynek Petracek writes in Lidove noviny.

Although the interview for the British Sunday Telegraph did not address the Czech public, it may be considered a small part of what can be denoted as Klaus's political legacy, Petracek writes.

On the other hand, it is surprising that although Klaus is writing some pessimistic scenarios, he has not offered any practical alternative, he adds.

He says that we should think of how "to restore our statehood and our sovereignty," which is impossible in a federation.

So shall we leave the EU? Klaus has not said this clearly, Petracek writes.

Trade union representatives are gaining cheap popularity before the Monday tripartite negotiations between the government, trade unions and employers, Martin Zverina writes in Lidove noviny.

In unison, the trade union leadership has tried to create the most possible confrontational atmosphere before the talks actually started, Zverina writes.

Is it possible to install any obliging atmosphere? Or do they want to scare their partners? he asks.

The logic of the trade union apparatchiks is obvious. If they are popular enough through their vulgarity, they will have a chance of being placed on the list of candidates of the Social Democrats, which may be followed by some lucrative postings, Zverina writes.

A number of former trade union bosses have chosen this as the apex of their careers, he adds.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz