Andrew Duff Asks Vaclav Klaus If He Is A 'Closet Federalist'

12.50.00pm GMT Thu 19th Feb 2009

UEF President Andrew Duff MEP says he is astonished by the profound lack of understanding of the European Union shown by Czech President Vaclav Klaus in his speech to the European Parliament today.

In a statement Mr Duff says:

"President Klaus should be thanked for being such an undiplomatic head of state. His bold speech certainly enlivened this morning's session.

"The astonishing thing, however, is that Mr Klaus seemed to blame the Union for not having an executive government which could be held properly to account by the European Parliament. Is he a closet federalist, after all?

"As things stand, Mr Klaus demeans the legitimacy of the European Parliament, but has no alternative democratic solution to offer. Does he think that a curious assemblage of 27 different national parliaments could possibly exercise the scrutiny, budgetary and legislative powers of the European Parliament with greater effect?

Andrew Duff, who is also spokesman on constitutional affairs for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), added:

"The top priority of the EU is to see the Lisbon treaty ratified. Once it is, Mr Klaus may care to read it again in order to reach a better understanding of the federal-type democratic system of governance which the new treaty modernises and reinforces.

"When everyone else is drawing the conclusion that Europeans will be stronger together, it is sad to see the presiding head of state of the Union pulling in the opposite direction."

ENDS