Václav Klaus stands up for Freedom

► European Parliament, Brussels, 19 February 2009

Czech President Vaclav Klaus addresses the European Parliament, marking the Czech Presidency of the EU Council. The Czech President had asked for this visit himself, as Mr Pöttering informed the House during the meeting, which lasted from 11:05 to 11:45

♦ The speakers were as follows:

• Hans-Gert Pöttering 7 mins
• Václav Klaus 26 mins
• Hans-Gert Pöttering 4 mins

♦ Featured in this video:

• Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic
• Hans-Gert Pöttering MEP, President of the European Parliament
• Avril Doyle MEP (EPP-ED)
• Martin Sculz MEP, President of the PES (snippet)
• Shots from the satirical leaflet welcoming the Czech President to the European Parliament with "A Constitutional Guide to the Political Groups"*

This video features excerpts from President Klaus' speech, part of Mr Pöttering's second short speech and Ms Doyle's point of order. There was no debate. After both Klaus and Pöttering left the House, Diana Wallis MEP (ALDE) presided. Three MEPs were allowed to intervene before the House went on with its usual business:

1. Austrian MEP Hans-Peter Martin (non-attached, formerly with PES) pointed out that the president did not intervene on interruptions as he had done the last time a head of state was interrupted;

2. Irish MEP Avril Doyle (EPP-ED), whose point of order is included in the video, and which concerns the dissemination of "materials to influence the outcome of the Lisbon treaty ratification process"*;

3. German MEP Martin Schulz, President of the Socialists (PES), replied to Mr Martin that when the Greek prime minsiter was in the EP for the signing of the charter, Klaus was allowed to speak and that was "the difference between us and them" (presumably referring to some partisan incident between the PES and the conservative EPP-ED)

* The leaflet was produced by the Independence/Democracy Group in the European Parliament and is the creation of YouTube.com/europarl and MugDesign. Incidentally, the acting president asked by Avril Doyle to give a ruling on this dissemination of leaflets was Diana Wallis MEP (ALDE), who features on the same leaflet holding a Referendum placard next to the pro-Constitution-without-asking-the-people president of the ALDE group, Graham Watson.

► The translation of President Klaus' speech is taken from the offical copy (EN) handed out by the Czech delegation. The translations for Pöttering and Schulz are based on live interpretation.
..................................

► Credits

♦ Video:

• European Parliament Mulitimedia Library: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/wps-europarl-internet/frd/vod/player?date=20090219 (For which I got copyrighted by EuroNews and slammed with adverts - and yet this remains public domain because whatever happens in the European Parliament is paid for by the European taxpayers).

♦ Music:

• Intro and ending: "Irish Traditional Uilleann Pipes" - Gerry McFadden
• "The Temple" - soundtrack, World of Warcraft
• "Malta Suite" - by Maltese composer Charles Camilleri, National Orchestra, Teatru Manoel, Valletta, conducted by Brian Schembri.
• "Death of a Cat" - TerrorStorm, Alex Jones

..................................

► EU Member States:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, United Kingdom

♦ Other states in Europe:

Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Faroes, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Transdniestria (Transnistria), Belarus, Turkey, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, Abkhazia, South Ossetia.

..................................

► Tags to wake up the Eye-ties:

Italia, dove sei? Italiani per la liberta, dove siete? Con Cappato che dichiara gli "stati uniti d'europa"! Italiani della RAI PippoBaudiana - svegliatevi dal sonno! Siete il popolo piu eurofilo nell'unione. --- roma torino milano genova verona venezia firenze bologna rimini bari brindisi napoli brescia palermo sardegna sicilia pozzallo pozzalletto pozzallettino pozzallettinolla gladio

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• European
• Parliament
• Union
• EU
• Vaclav
• Klaus
• Hans-Gert
• Pottering
• nigel
• farage
• martin
• schulz
• avril
• doyle
• lisbon
• treaty
• irish
• ireland
• constitution
• nwo
• icke
• alex
• jones
• ron
• paul
• freedom
• italia
• malta

[alexusdelarge]

What a fucking disgrace that they left while this great man was speaking. Fucking stupid assholes. Cannot stand any criticism. Getting paid for stabbing the European people in the back. This must end, before they enslave the European member states with dept the member states cannot possible repay and leaving behind thousands and thousands of stupid ass, dumb laws, which are only for the rich multinationals and hold nothing good for the people. Look at the criminal supplement law. disgraceful.

[europarl]

@alexusdelarge - a real disgrace indeed. They have no shame. They are not even aware of how ridiculous they look because that place and their status has redeemed them of any dignity they may have had.

[4strip]

Well, Klaus was a prick and thief (as almost every member of parliament in our country till today), when he was part of the goverment for quite long time till 98 or so. Then he went into "low profile" mode and his ideas became more mature. And even more after he became president.

So I have quite mixed feelings about him due to his history, but I am very glad, that he deputize our country at these times and that he's not afraid of speaking out loud about these topics, ty Mr. Klaus.

[chanctonbury63]

@HandbuchHuelle Some of the strongest anti EU opinions I hear come from German friends.

[Haggismaker]

That our representatives DARE to leave the chamber when listening to someone with another point of view. It is not their right neither do they have my permission as their elector to act thus. Shame is not enough for these deniers of freedom of speech and expression. They should be brought before the courts for failing in their duty to represent those who elected them.

[Ondrus90]

Klaus is right, but he is an extreme populist...

[MrWompz]

Funny that these idiots can't take the advice of a man who understands. I admire this president.

[uatch]

THE EU hate the truth

[NeoInfernAlis]

@kz888888 I regret the loss of your president in a plane crash. I Know They Were Allies against this Beast named EU

[kz888888]

I am Polish and I envy Czechs to have such a GREAT PRESIDENT!!!

[yogizh]

Je to dosť skúsený politik, na to aby nevedel, že to ako oni odídu nič nezmení, kamery bežia

[yogizh]

After two years passed, he is more right like then ! Vašek vie...