President Klaus’ European Manifesto
President Klaus’ European Manifesto

Summary/Abstract: The publication of the manifesto in September by the former Czech president, Václav Klaus, and signed by various European politicians and academics, which criticised an article by Daniel Cohn-Bendit, the German Green Member of the European Parliament, was not the first occasion the two men have crossed swords. In December 2008, a famously bad-tempered exchange took place between them in Prague Castle, on the eve of the Czech Republic’s assumption of the EU rotating presidency. Klaus was attacked by a trio comprised of Cohn-Bendit, an Irish deputy and Hans-Gert Pöttering, the then president of the European Parliament, for having had contacts with Declan Ganley and his “No to Lisbon” referendum campaign in Ireland in 2008. Klaus responded robustly, accusing Cohn- Bendit of behaving in a manner which reminded him of the Soviets

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