KLAUS IS IN THE HOUSE:

Europe vs. Vaclav Klaus (Joshua Keating, 10/06/2009, FP: Passport)

A libertarian nationalist who is best-known internationally for his anti-environmentalism, Klaus is also a strident Euroskeptic, he refuses to fly the EU flag from Prague Castle, saying it would be "reminiscent of Czech subservience to Moscow under communism." In his latest gambit, 17 of Klaus's allies in parliament have challenged the treaty in the Czech Republic's constitutional court, allowing the president to delay his signature until there's a ruling.

The EU is hoping to get the Czech ratification over with quickly, but foreign pressure isn't likely to work on Klaus, who waited nine months to sign the International Criminal Court treaty after parliament had approved it. There's even speculation that Klaus might try to delay ratification until a new Conservative government is elected in Britain that could torpedo the treaty permanently.

Pressure? No one wants it but bureaucratic elites.

Posted by Orrin Judd at October 6, 2009 2:58 PM