Libertas (Czech Republic)

Political party in Czech Republic

Libertas.cz is a eurosceptic party in the Czech Republic that was founded in 2009 by the former media entrepreneur and MEP Vladimír Železný. After some controversies it became an associate of Declan Ganley's pan-European alliance Libertas.eu.

History

After comprehensive negotiations with president Václav Klaus and other leading Czech eurosceptics, Ganley's attempts to bring about a Czech branch of Libertas.eu remained unsuccessful. The newly founded Party of Free Citizens, which was endorsed by Klaus, unexpectedly refused to cooperate with Ganley's pan-European alliance, leaving the name Libertas unclaimed in the Czech Republic.

This enabled the former media mogul Vladimír Železný, a eurosceptic Member of the European Parliament[4] to register a party under exactly the designated name by January 21, 2009.[2] It remained unclear whether the registration had been accomplished in some way on behalf of the European Libertas.eu[2] or without any consent.[1]

Supporters of Železný's Libertas.cz included Jana Bobošíková[5] and Vlastimil Tlustý but not Declan Ganley and his followers, who promptly disavowed the party.[6][7] However, after Václav Klaus intervened,[8] two MPs, Vlastimil Tlustý and Jan Schwippel, changed sides, leaving ODS and joining Železný's Libertas.cz.[9][10] This led the European Libertas.eu to a volte-face, now claiming Železný's Libertas.cz an affiliate.[11]

2009 European Parliament elections

The list fielded by Libertas.cz in the 2009 European Parliament elections contained the following 29 candidates:

Code Party Number of candidates % Source
172 Nezávislí demokraté 19 65.52 [12]
99 no party affiliation 6 20.69 [12]
53 Občanská demokratická strana 1 3.45 [12]
713 Libertas.cz 2 6.90 [12]
701 Doktoři (za uzdravení společnosti) 1 3.45 [12]

The list contained the nineteen candidates from Železný's other party (Nezávislí demokraté), six independents (including Jan Schwippel, now disavowed ODS), one ODS (Vlastimil Tlustý), and three other candidates.

The number of candidates elected was zero.[13]

See also

  • Treaty of Lisbon

External links

  • Official site
  • Vlastimil Tlustý - Libertas Ceska on YouTube.

References

  1. ^ a b "Železný: O jedničce na kandidátce Libertas.cz rozhodnou Češi, ne Irové". zpravy.idnes.cz. 24 January 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d "Lidovky.cz: Czech MEP Železný establishes Libertas.cz movement[permanent dead link]", January 21, 2009, Prague Monitor
  3. ^ "Libertas.cz: Contact details". Archived from the original on 2009-05-27.
  4. ^ "Czech Libertas recruit has conviction for evading duty". Irish Times, Thursday. January 22, 2009.
  5. ^ "Euro Watch: Cyclone Klaus hits Europe", February 5, 2009, Prague Post
  6. ^ "Lidovky.cz: Czech MEP's Libertas appears without Ganley's knowledge" Archived 2009-02-21 at the Wayback Machine 23 January 2009, Prague Monitor
  7. ^ "Libertas faces UK electoral hurdle over party name". Irish Times, Friday. January 23, 2009.
  8. ^ "Czech president meets MEPs from eurosceptical group[permanent dead link]", March 5, 2009, Prague Monitor
  9. ^ "Czech rebel MPs to join Libertas.cz and run in EP elex", 14:40 31 March 2009, aktualne.centrum.cz
  10. ^ "Fleet Sheet: Today´s news: 1.4.2009 09:38 Archived 2009-04-08 at the Wayback Machine", from fleet-sheet.respekt.cz
  11. ^ "MPs who voted against Czech government join Libertas list for European Parliament elections Archived April 3, 2009, at the Wayback Machine", 1 April 2009 21:00, libertas.eu Archived June 4, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ a b c d e "Kandidáti dle politické příslušnosti | volby.cz".
  13. ^ "Results: Czech Republic". Archived from the original on 2009-06-11.
  • v
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Libertas
Movement
Europarty
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  • Libertas Institute
Eurofoundation
Timeline
See also
People
Staff
Election advisers
Members of member parties1
Members of affiliated parties2
Individual members
Disavowed people
Parties
Member parties1
Affiliated parties2
Czech Republic
  • Libertas.cz3
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France
Germany
Greece
  • Komma Fileleftheron (1980)
Latvia
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Spain
Disavowed parties
Elections
2009 lists
Key
1
Member parties are members of Libertas.eu. Members of member parties are automatically members of Libertas.eu unless they choose otherwise.
2
Affiliated parties are not members of Libertas.eu but are otherwise associated. Members of affiliated parties are not members of Libertas.eu unless they choose to join as individuals.
3
Parties presenting as Libertas.eu affiliates/members but not sanctioned by Libertas.eu when presentation commenced.
  • European Union Portal
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