Czechs to delay Lisbon Treaty for 6 months?

The Czechs are considering delaying ratification of the Lisbon Treaty for possibly 6 months, regardless of the Irish referendum outcome. They might even delay until after the UK general election, which must occur by 4th June 2010 at the latest.

Should that happen, we might be rid of this nasty treaty by June 2010! Hooray!

Much as Germany did, President Václav Klaus's gambit is to refer the treaty to its constitutional court, aided by loyal senators in the Upper House, to check its compatibility with the Czech constitution. It would be difficult for Eurofanatics to argue against this highly responsible course of action.

The zealots are bound to be in a lather, nevertheless - Barosso and Sarkozy in particular.

Given that Brown's hanging onto power by his chewed fingernails in order to ensure that the treaty is ratified on his watch, the Czech delay makes his remaining in power until the end of the year quite pointless to his baying detractors in the Labour Party.

Might this be a catalyst for another Brown putsch - shortly before or after the Party's conference?

Oooh, lovely!

Update: Witterings from Witney draw my attention to an article in the Telegraph which throws the spotlight on Tory angst regarding the Irish Referendum result and the Czechs' stalling gambit.

Whether or not the Irish vote No, the spotlight is going to be very firmly on the Lisbon Treaty - something Cameron will be unable to duck (same goes for the Lib Dems) because this is the main issue facing Britain, in the eyes of the vast majority of the public.

Fudges simply will not do.

Update: MEP for the South West has written an open letter to Václav Klaus:

An open Letter to the Czech President Václav Klaus
President Vaclav Klaus
c/o Prague Castle
119 08 Praha 1
Prague,
Czech Republic
16th September 2009

Dear President Klaus,

Writing as a UK Independence Party MEP - we came 2nd in the recent UK European elections, ahead of the governing party - I can hardly overstate how much our Party supports your brave and principled stand against the early ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.

UKIP hold the view that this Treaty is a product of the EU political establishment – reminiscent of the old Soviet Nomenklatura - in flagrant defiance of the peoples of Europe, as evidenced by the No votes in France, the Netherlands and Ireland. The Treaty therefore lacks democratic basis or validity.

If you, as President of the Czech Republic, can hold the line until mid-2010, it is then almost certain that the British people at that time will be granted a referendum. Another party, who are currently seen as heavy favourites to form the new British government, pledges this. If that referendum takes place, our considered analysis is that the British people would reject the Treaty by a greater than 70% to 30% margin.

This result in our country would derail comprehensively the integrationist and anti- democratic plans of the EU Establishment. By extension, you would have your own large place in history, as the statesman who saved the Europe of independent nation states whose relationships are historically based on friendship and trade.

I wish you well in these next critical months.

Yours sincerely and in admiration,

William (The Earl of) Dartmouth MEP