The constitutional debate: A one man show? Vaclav Klaus and the constitutional discourse in the Czech Republic

Abstract

Based on a discourse analysis of Czech media coverage of EU Constitutional ratification and rejection between October 2004 and October 2005, this article identifies and analyses the following aspects of the Czech debate: (1) A shift from substantive towards procedural issues within the ratification period; (2) the involvement of a relatively low number of non-political actors; (3) polarisation and a high level of contestation and politicisation. It argues, first, that Czech ‘Euroscepticism’ is an effect of both polarisation and politicisation of the debate. Second, the Czech President, Václav Klaus, shaped the Czech Constitutional debate to a great extent, as well as contributing considerably to its transnationalisation. Yet, third, the overall political character of the constitutional debate disapproves the claim that the voice of President Klaus drowned out all others. On the contrary, the article demonstrates that although the President was undeniably the key actor he was clearly not the only and certainly not an uncontested player.