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06/13/2003
Czechs have begun voting in a historic referendum on joining the European Union. Polls opened to the public at 2pm Friday. Among public figures who cast their ballots early in the afternoon were former president Vaclav Havel, who all along has indicated his support for the European Union, and current President Vaclav Klaus, who refrained from indicating this week which way he would cast his vote. Asked on Friday as he left the voting booth whether he would reveal his decision at last, the president had this to say:
"Definitely not. You know, I am absolutely sure my vote was the right one, and you may just guess."
Mr Klaus was also asked by journalists how he gauged the importance of the referendum for the Czech Republic overall:
"Well, it's an important moment in our effort to become, after thirteen years a normal, standard European country. In some respects the vote will be part of the whole process."
The polls close on Friday at 10pm local time. On Saturday they will reopen at 8am till 2pm, when final ballots must be cast. Unconfirmed results should be made available almost immediately after polls close. There is no minimum turnout needed for the referendum to be declared valid, but the vote is binding. If a majority of people vote "Yes" to joining the EU, there will be no need for the parliament to ratify accession. In the event of a "No" vote, the government can ask the president to hold a second referendum in two years' time. The latest opinion polls suggest that between 70 - 75 percent of those who come to the polls will vote for accession.
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06/13/2003
The chairman of the Lower House Lubomir Zaoralek has levelled criticism at Czech President Vaclav Klaus, as well as one of the Czech representatives at the European Convention, Jan Zahradil. Speaking shortly before the polls on European accession opened in the Czech Republic on Friday, Mr Zaoralek told journalists Mr Klaus' and Mr Zahradil's stances on the EU showed a 'lack of courage'. Mr Zaoralek also added that he felt 'laments' or 'taking offence' over the future of Europe were hardly beneficial for the Czech Republic. On Thursday it was Jan Zahradil who walked out of the European Convention complaining the agenda had become too federalist. An MP for the opposition Civic Democrats, Mr Zahradil stated the Convention was being manipulated by representatives of the national parliaments.
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06/12/2003
Members of the centre-left coalition have been urging people to say "Yes" to the European Union in this weekend's referendum. Led by Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla, ministers in the Social Democrat-dominated cabinet walked the streets and held special press conferences to persuade people to go to the polls. President Vaclav Klaus - often described as a Euro-sceptic - has urged people to vote in the plebiscite, but has refused to recommend EU membership to his citizens. Neither will he say which way he himself will vote.
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06/12/2003
On Thursday President Klaus received his Slovenian counterpart Janez Drnovsek at Prague Castle, and repeated that EU membership should be viewed realistically and without illusions. Mr Klaus said once again that people must realise EU accession was a marriage of convenience rather than a marriage based on love. He told reporters that while he had not said which way he would vote, he had always tried to explain to people the reasons why the Czech Republic should "eventually" join the EU.
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06/12/2003
Polls open at 2pm on Friday, and close at 2pm on Saturday. Unconfirmed results should be available almost immediately. There is no minimum turnout needed for the referendum to be declared valid, but the vote is binding: if a majority of people vote "Yes" to joining the EU, there will be no need for the parliament to ratify accession. In the event of a "No" vote, the government can ask the President to hold a second referendum in two years' time. The latest opinion polls suggest around 75 percent will vote in favour of accession, although a low turnout could reduce that margin considerably.
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06/12/2003
Meanwhile Jan Zahradil, one of the three Czech representatives on the European Convention on the future of Europe, walked out of the body on Thursday complaining the agenda was becoming too federalist. Mr Zahradil, an MP for the opposition Civic Democrats, said the Convention was being manipulated by representatives of the national parliaments. The European Convention will present its proposal for a new European Constitution to EU leaders at next week's summit in Thessaloniki.
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06/10/2003
The former president Vaclav Havel is one of the guests of honor at a concert in support of EU accession held at the bottom end of Wenceslas Square on Tuesday evening. The event was preceded by a dispute with the Town Hall which would not allow it to take place on the Old Town Square citing noise pollution. Following a great deal of criticism the Town Hall approved Wenceslas Square as a more appropriate location. Get-togethers in support of EU accession are taking place in several parts of Prague. The Prague 3 Zizkov district is organizing an outdoor event called "Zizkov goes to Europe". Czechs are due to vote on EU accession this weekend.
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06/09/2003
President Vaclav Klaus has called on Czech citizens to take part in the upcoming referendum on the Czech Republic's EU accession. Speaking on Czech Radio on Monday afternoon, President Klaus called the referendum a historically unrepeatable moment. Mr Klaus did not suggest how people should vote but he said he believed Czechs would follow their own reason and decide cautiously.
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06/09/2003
Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda has denied statements calling the Czech Republic a Euro-sceptic country. Speaking after Monday's meeting with his Slovak counterpart Eduard Kukan in Bratislava, Minister Svoboda said he hoped Czechs would confirm that in the upcoming referendum. Mr Svoboda also denied accusations that the Foreign Ministry's information campaign ahead of the referendum was a failure. The Czech and Slovak foreign ministers agreed that the cooperation of the four Visegrad countries, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary, should continue after EU accession.
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06/09/2003
President Vaclav Klaus appointed Miroslav Kostelka as new Czech defence minister on Monday. Mr Kostelka is replacing Jaroslav Tvrdik who stepped down ten days ago in protest at planned cuts in defence spending. A former Czech Army general and until now deputy defence minister, Mr Kostelka is expected to redraft the reform of the Czech military.
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