A Constitution By Any Other Name

Czech president says Lisbon Treaty project is over

The Czechs have hammered another nail into the coffin of the Lisbon treaty by declaring that ratification must stop.

Czech president Vaclav Klaus, who is supported by the country's largest political party, called the Irish referendum vote a "victory of freedom and reason" and said "ratification cannot continue".

His view was echoed in the Czech senate.

"Politicians have allowed the citizens to express their opinion only in a single EU country," Mr Klaus said.

"The Lisbon treaty project ended with the Irish voters' decision and its ratification cannot continue," he wrote on his own website, according to Czech news agency ČTK.

The resounding Irish no was a "victory of freedom and reason over artificial elitist projects and European bureaucracy," he said.

Přemysl Sobotka, Czech senate chairman, also said there was "no sense" continuing with ratification, according to the agency.

The Czech Republic, traditionally one of the more Euro-skeptic of the EU's 27 member states, is one of nine countries which have not yet ratified the treaty.

While little opposition to continued ratification has been seen yet among leaders of the other eight, efforts to keep the Lisbon Treaty alive in any form would be near impossible if another country joined Ireland in rejection.

Near impossible? In accordance with European Union rules, the EU Constitution Treaty of Lisbon is dead. Muerte. Mort. Tot. Mrtvý. Kaput.

A summit of EU leaders will look for possible solutions to the institutional crisis next week.

You betcha they will.

Busy throwing Israel under the bus and appeasing the Palis, shameless, disgraceful Condoleezza Rice was unavailable for comment.


Via The Telegraph