New pro-European party gears up for EP elections
Smaller parties in the Czech Republic are already gearing up for this year’s elections to the European Parliament, anxious to reach voters even though the elections only take place in June. Recent headlines have focussed on largely eurosceptical parties questioning further European integration (especially the Lisbon treaty), but other parties are focussing on the exact opposite – closer cooperation within the EU. One such party, the European Democratic Party founded by MEP Jana Hybášková last November, outlined its goals on Wednesday.
“The key issue that our country is now deciding is whether to ratify or not to ratify the Lisbon treaty, which means to be – or not to be – European. We established the European Democratic Party to clearly confirm and support the European stance, European citizenship and the Czech Republic’s sense of belonging in Europe.”
Some have wondered whether the message will hit home: Czech voters are known for basing their decisions on domestic issues rather than those affecting the EU as a whole. But Mrs Hybášková says things will be different this time, given the far-reaching crises hitting the energy sector as well as the global economy. In short, voters are more likely to see the bigger picture. The party is hoping to attract voters through candidates with strong track records on the international scene. Mrs Hybášková herself has extensive experience, as a member of the European parliament as well as the former ambassador to Kuwait. As for so-called eurosceptics, Hybášková argues that most Czech voters are not nearly as sceptical as it may sometimes appear, given the stance of some of the country’s politicians or its head of state.
“According to all recent public opinion polls we can say very clearly that 70 percent of Czechs are satisfied being in the EU and count themselves as European first, Czech second. [The idea that we are all somehow eurosceptics is a fabrication].”
