Tsjechische premier Spidla kondigt referendum aan over EU-grondwet (en)

The Czech Republic has become the latest in a line of countries thinking about having a referendum on the EU Constitution.

Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla said on Tuesday (7 October) that his government will submit a bill on holding referendums which would enable people to express their stance towards the draft of the European constitution.

According to Mr Spidla, who was speaking at an extraordinary session of the lower house of Parliament, the government will not draft a special law applying only to a referendum on the EU constitution but a general law on referendums which would pave the way to holding nationwide polls on various issues.

"The government will submit to parliament a draft bill on a general referendum, since there are unquestionably a number of issues of first-rate importance which it is right to turn to the people", Mr Spidla said quoted by the CTK.

The main political force in the Czech Parliament to push for a referendum on the EU constitution is the opposition Civic Democrat (ODS) party.

The Civil Democrats and the Communists are against the draft Constitution. A combined push by these two parties could mean that the government will not have enough support in the Parliament to push through the ratification procedure.

According to Jan Zahradil of the ODS, a Czech representative in the European Convention which drew up the Treaty blue print, a majority of a three-fifths would be needed to ratify the Constitution in each chamber of the Parliament.