Czech Senate postopones ratification to seek Constitutional Court approval

The Czech Senate on April 24 decided to postpone the vote on the Reform Treaty, asking the Constitutional Court to see whether it was in line with Czech law.

The ratification, which was scheduled for April, was delayed after a majority of 48 in the 81-member Senate decided to ask for the opinion of the highest national Court, to see if the Treaty would conform to the country’s constitution.

Senators asked for an assessment of six points, including whether the change from a unanimity vote to a majority vote in many areas of the EU legislation would be in line with the Czech Constitution.

They also asked if the Czech Republic would have a legal obligation to observe the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, wich is integral part of the Lisbon Treaty.

Sona Paukrtova, senator from the opposition party Open Democracy Club (KOD) said that there was no reason to call on the Constitutional Court.

She said that the ruling party, the Civic Democrats (ODS), had insisted to have the Treaty assessed, but the opposition was in favour of a quick ratification.

A poll released in April showed that more than half of Czech voters were in favour of the Treaty. According to the poll, released by STEM, of 1,341 Czech citizens surveyed, 53 percent said that their parliament should ratify the Treaty.