Czech CSSD head criticises postponement of "Lisbon verdict"

The Constitutional Court (US) is to decide whether the Lisbon reform treaty is in compliance with the Czech constitution on the basis of a complaint filed by a group of senators.

Until the court's ruling is issued, President Vaclav Klaus cannot sign the Lisbon EU reform treaty to complete its ratification in the Czech Republic and the whole of the EU.

Paroubek said the postponement of the ruling is on the verge of an "obstruction" and so is the senators' decision to make addition to their complaint today.

Topolanek, on his part, said the US thereby avoided possible criticism for a too quick decision and a suspicion of having prepared it in advance.

After the US cancelled the October date of general election and thereby interfered in political affairs in an "unprecedented way," it again showed its tendency to influence political processes regardless of consequences, Paroubek said.

He reminded of the upcoming EU summit at the end of the week and the fact that the US had been preoccupied with the Lisbon treaty and its relation to the Czech constitutional order for over one year.

Topolanek admitted that the postponement of the US ruling on the Lisbon treaty would considerably complicate the Czech government's situation at the summit to be held on October 29-30.

The summit is also to deal with Czech President Vaclav Klaus's demand for a permanent opt-out for Czechs from the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, a part of the treaty.

Topolanek said the Czech cabinet would have to face pressure not only at the summit but during all talks in the EU .

He added that the addition to the senators' complaint today was the only "unpleasant surprise" during the US proceedings.

Topolanek said he took the senators' promise not to file other similar complaints seriously.

Klaus has not yet clearly said whether he will really sign the Lisbon treaty after his demand for an opt-out is met and after the Constitutional Court decides that the treaty is in compliance with the Czech constitution, Topolanek noted.

Christian Democrat (KDU-CSL) chairman Cyril Svoboda also said he considers the US's step logical.

"It is comprehensible that the court has postponed the proceedings since it is overwhelmed with new information and it must justify its ruling properly," Svoboda told reporters.

The senators who filed the complaint would have deserved a medal if they had withdrawn it, he added.

Autor: ČTK
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