Diplomatic storm rages in Ireland after Czech leader’s visit[fr][de] 

The diplomatic storm caused by Klaus's visit worsened as a number of leading Irish political figures expressed outrage at the Czech president's "inappropriate intervention" in Ireland's internal Lisbon Treaty debate. Mr Klaus responded in kind, labelling Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin a "hypocrite". 

'Embarrassing' visit reignites Irish Lisbon debate 

Klaus's three-day visit first degenerated into controversy when the Czech leader met prominent Irish 'No to Lisbon' campaigner Declan Ganley in Dublin (EurActiv 11/11/08). 

Anger within Irish government circles was exacerbated when Klaus and Ganley announced their intention to form a new pan-European political force opposed to the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and further EU integration (EurActiv 12/11/08). 

Irish officials, at first privately but eventually in full view of the media, denounced Klaus's actions in no uncertain terms. Irish opposition leader Enda Kenny said the visit was an "embarrassment" that "perhaps should have been cancelled altogether". Micheál Martin described the Czech president's "very political comments" as "an inappropriate intervention" in Ireland's "discussions with our partners in the European Union".

Klaus retorted that he could not accept "such hypocrisy," adding that the problem of "democracy disappearing in Europe" seemed far worse than he expected following the reactions of Micheál Martin. 

The Czech president controversially described Mr Ganley as a "dissident" in the mould of former Soviet-era dissidents in his own country. 

Concerns over Czech EU Presidency 

In Brussels, meanwhile, leading MEPs expressed concern over the impact Mr Klaus's visit could have on the forthcoming Czech Presidency of the EU. 

Austrian Socialist MEP Hannes Swoboda described the Czech president's meetings as "scandalous," describing events as the "worst possible start" for the Czech Republic's six-month stewardship of the EU. 

However, it remains to be seen what actual impact the Klaus visit will have on the Czech Presidency. The position of Czech president has limited political power and it is not thought likely in EU circles that the controversial Ireland visit will affect plans already underway in Prague and Brussels. 

Nevertheless, the Czech Constitutional Court last week postponed its own ruling on the constitutionality of the Lisbon Treaty after a personal intervention by President Klaus. As a result, it is unlikely that the Czech government will succeed in ratifying the treaty before the beginning of its presidency, as it had hoped. 

Irish MEP Brian Crowley (UENG) said the Czech President had breached "well established protocol by attending what was in reality the launch of the Libertas pan-European party in Dublin," adding that Klaus was "abusing the referendum result on the Lisbon treaty in Ireland to push a eurosceptic agenda". 

Irish Centre-Right MEP Jim Higgins (EPP) told EurActiv that he was "astounded that the Czech president had accepted an invitation to dine with the founder of Libertas, in view of the fact that Mr Ganley's anti-Lisbon campaign has done huge damage to the reputation of Ireland as a proud and responsible member of the European Union". He added that "the decision of the Irish people to accept the logic of Mr Ganley's anti-Lisbon campaign will have major consequences for the status, role and respect for Ireland among the other 26 member states". 

In a statement to the press, Irish anti-Lisbon group Libertas attacked the "spluttering, incoherent bluster from the political establishment" in Ireland, noting that "President Klaus has shown himself to be a friend to the majority of Irish citizens who rejected the Lisbon Treaty. That he is the incoming President of the EU Council is even more significant". 

Irish Minister of State for European Affairs Dick Roche claimed Mr Klaus's praise of Mr Ganley as a dissident was "misguided, misinformed and insulting" to the Irish nation, which has an "unbroken tradition of democratic political life and free debate".

German MEP Jo Leinen  described Mr Klaus's behaviour as "unparalleled in the 50-year history of the EU."