Ireland votes Yes on European Union. Will the EU now move ahead with their plans?

Or will there be a setback, caused by the Czech President, and Britain's Elections next year?

Foes of EU treaty urge Czech PM not to sign it

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Opponents of the European Union's Lisbon reform treaty urged Czech President Vaclav Klaus on Saturday not to sign the charter and to stop it going into force, even though it has been approved by Irish voters.

Irish voters overwhelmingly backed the treaty at the second time of asking in a referendum on Friday. But it cannot be implemented until it has been ratified by all 27 member states, and the signatures of two EU leaders are still missing.

Polish President Lech Kaczynski said before the referendum he would ratify the treaty if Ireland backed it but Czech President Vaclav Klaus has given no indication that he will sign it, despite growing pressure from other EU leaders.

"I hope Vaclav Klaus can hold out as long as possible. But it will be very difficult," Nigel Farage, leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party, said.

"I expect a lot of pressure to be put on him from all sides in the EU and in the Czech Republic. We will just have to wait and see what happens."

[...]

But groups that oppose the treaty in Ireland said they hoped Klaus would hold out until Britain's parliamentary election next year, which the Conservatives are widely expected to win.

Conservative leader David Cameron has promised a referendum on the charter although Britain has already ratified it.

"I would urge the Czech president not to sign the treaty into force. If he resists, then it will give the British public, who were promised a referendum, a chance to decide once and for all," said Libertas leader Declan Ganley, who led opposition to the treaty when Irish voters rejected it in June 2008.

Coir, a prominent opponent of the treaty in Ireland's second referendum campaign, said the Czech Republic was the "next port of call in the fight against Brussels." [...]

I've posted previously about the nasty attacks on the Czech President, to bully him into submission:

Check out the Czech President, Vaclav Klaus

Now the attacks on him will probably get even worse. Poor Klaus. I hope he can hold out. It will be interesting to see if Britain can re-claim it's sovereignty with a referendum. We shall see.


Related Links:

Ireland has 2nd vote on Lisbson Treaty [with update on YES vote]

Without Opposition: the European Union

European Union: becoming openly totalitarian?