Polish president on state visit to Czech Republic

The Polish president Lech Kaczynski is currently in the Czech Republic for a two-day state visit. His Czech counterpart Václav Klaus presented Mr Kaczynski with the country’s highest honour, the Order of the White Lion. As well as mutual relations, both heads of state have been discussing the European Union – a point on which they have much in common, as two of the most Euro-sceptic leaders in the bloc.

Lech Kaczynski, Václav Klaus (right), photo: CTK

Polish President Lech Kaczynski’s arrival in the Czech Republic on Thursday marked the first state visit of 2010, and he was received with the highest of accolades by a kindred political spirit, Czech President Václav Klaus, who Mr Kaczynski in turn recognised for the close relations the countries enjoy.

“Today I am here in Prague in a country that has, in recent years, become our very close ally – closer than ever before. I have done what I’ve been able to do to that end, but it would not have happened without the assistance of your president and your government. I think we have been able to do good work together, but it needs to be continued.”

If there was any doubt as to what has been one of the main factors the tightening relations between Poland and the Czech Republic in recent years, President Klaus, in bestowing the honour, highlighted his appreciation for an ideological ally.

Marta and Lech Kaczynski, Václav Klaus, Livia Klausová (left to right), photo: CTK

“I have awarded President Kaczynski the highest order of this country, and I would like to say once again, that I am convinced it is in the right hands. We respect Mr Kaczynski, we respect his standpoints and opinions, and we respect the courageous way in which he presents them. I believe that he has done very much towards achieving the outstanding level of Czech-Polish relations today.”

Those standpoints and opinions are very much about democracy in the European Union, with both leaders opposed to what they see as an unfair weight granted to larger members, and the difference between unification in Europe and centralisation. Aside from a single sticking point residing in Mr. Klaus’ strong support for Russia, the presidents were also united in a sharply critical stance on the EU’s relief effort for Haiti, which Mr Kaczynski sees as meaninglessly below par, and Mr Klaus blames on the EU’s post-Lisbon framework.

Lech Kaczynski, Václav Klaus (right), photo: CTK

“We are in a very peculiar in-between period in which the institutions of Europe are starting to look for and starting to define their tasks. There is no doubt that had the situation in Haiti occurred one year ago, then the presiding country [the Czech Republic] would have acted very intensively, as would the European Commission. Now there is a new situation, and hardly anyone has acted at all”.

Poland awaits presidential elections in 2010, surveys show Mr Kaczynski with little hope, and the president himself has refused to say whether he will even run. His current state visit to the Czech Republic, in which he is also meeting PM Jan Fischer and the mayor of Prague on Friday, may therefore be his last.