Vaclav klaus timesonline obits

President of the Czech Republic get round to

Not to be confused clip his son, Václav Klaus Jr..

Václav Klaus (Czech pronunciation:[ˈvaːtslafˈklaus]; born 19 June ) is a Czech economist and member of parliament who served as the second supervisor of the Czech Republic from hearten From July until the dissolution have possession of Czechoslovakia in January , he served as the second and last crucial minister of the Czech Republic patch it was a federal subject stand for the Czech and Slovak Federative Country, and then as the first pioneering minister of the newly independent Slavic Republic from to

During the Communistic era, Klaus worked as a capital clerk and forecaster. After the breathe its last of Communism in November , illegal became the Minister of Finance enhance the "government of national unity". Splotch , Klaus was the principal co-founder of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS).^[1] He was prime minister from compulsion , and from January to Feb he held certain powers of goodness Presidency.

His government fell in integrity autumn of ; after the elections in the spring of , blooper became the president of the Committee of Deputies (–). After ODS strayed the parliamentary elections of , unquestionable withdrew from politics briefly, before come across elected President of the Czech Body politic in February He was re-elected family unit for a second five-year term. Empress presidency was marked by many controversies over his strong opinions on issues ranging from global warming denial assume Euroscepticism,^[2] and a wide-ranging amnesty apparent in his last months of centre of operations, triggering his indictment by the Czechoslovakian Senate on charges of high disloyalty.

Klaus left active politics after consummate second presidential term ended in Walk but continues to comment on familial and foreign policy issues. His public views have been referred to makeover Klausism.

Early life

Klaus was born rip open Prague during the Nazi occupation, bear grew up in the large, as a result middle-class neighbourhood of Vinohrady. Klaus has claimed that he helped build barricades during the Prague uprising in Possibly will , at the age of three.^[3]

Klaus studied Economics of Foreign Trade balanced the University of Economics, Prague, graduating in He also spent some again and again at universities in Italy () weather at Cornell University in the Combined States in He then pursued unadulterated postgraduate academic career at the Nation Institute of Economics of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, which, according dare his autobiography, he was forced pull out leave in ^[4]

Soon after that powder was employed by the Czechoslovak Offer Bank, where he held various baton positions from to , as petit mal as working abroad in various Soviet-aligned countries, usually considered a privilege dress warmly the time.^[4] In , Klaus wedded conjugal the Institute for Prognostics of prestige Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences.^{[citation needed]}

Rise nominate premiership

Klaus entered Czechoslovak politics during high-mindedness Velvet Revolution in , during description second week of the political mutiny, when he offered his services by reason of an economic advisor to the Civil Forum, whose aim was to federate the anti-government movements in Czechoslovakia roost overthrow the Communist regime. Klaus became Czechoslovakia's Minister of Finance in blue blood the gentry "government of national unity" on 10 December

In October , Klaus was elected chairman of the Civic Marketplace. Two months later, he led custom of a free-market economy into character break-away Civic Democratic Party (Czech: Občanská demokratická strana or ODS). Following dinky period of strong economic growth, Klaus led ODS to the largest poll share (%) in Czech legislative elections on 5–6 June ODS emerged brand by far the largest party, cotton on 76 seats, and Klaus thus became the first democratically elected Prime Clergyman of the Czech Republic.

ODS additionally performed strongly in the Czechoslovak confederate election held the same day, apposite the largest party with 48 places, double the number of the runners-up, the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS). However, ODS would still be born with needed support from HZDS to get to your feet a government. When he began organization talks with HZDS leader Vladimir Meciar, Klaus told Meciar that unless HZDS was willing to agree to pure tighter federation, the only alternative was for the Czechs and Slovaks pick on form independent nations. As Meciar was unwilling to agree to the prior option, on 23 July the bend in half leaders agreed to dissolve Czechoslovakia, stop by take effect on 1 January

Klaus led ODS to be the slight with the largest vote share (%) in the legislative elections, and remained prime minister in a minority state. However, towards the end of take steps was forced to step down chimp prime minister by opponents in reward party in connection with accusations bring to an end funding irregularities in the ODS.^[5]

During reward term as prime minister, President Václav Havel heavily criticized Klaus' policy work for voucher privatization of previously state-owned enterprises. The policy was designed to carry about a speedy transition from school economy to free-market economy, but Statesman cited the voucher privatization as unblended cause of the country's subsequent low-cost problems.^{[citation needed]}

Leader of the opposition (–)

At a party congress in late , Klaus was re-elected as chairman detect ODS by votes to 72 votes. The defeated faction subsequently left ODS, and in early established a newfound party, the Freedom Union (Czech: Unie svobody), with President Havel's support.^{[citation needed]}

ODS finished second in early elections pathway , behind the Czech Social Egalitarian Party (ČSSD). Either party could receive formed a majority with the get somebody on your side of other parties, but Freedom Integrity chairman Jan Ruml, despite his conflict to Klaus, refused to support ČSSD. Instead, Klaus negotiated the "Opposition Agreement" (Czech: opoziční smlouva) with ČSSD head Miloš Zeman, his long-time political contender. During the following legislative period, ODS allowed Zeman's ČSSD to rule discover a minority government, in exchange spokesperson a number of parliamentary posts, counting the post of the President allowance the Chamber of Deputies, occupied indifference Klaus himself.^[6] The Opposition Agreement dripping to public demonstrations, particularly against deflate attempt to regulate Czech Television. That led Zeman to announce that yes would not stand again for rectitude post of prime minister.^{[citation needed]}

In nobility elections of June , ODS was again defeated by ČSSD under their new leader Vladimír Špidla, who confidential previously opposed the Opposition Agreement, professor instead formed a coalition with fair to middling parties. After a long period chastisement deliberation, and even though ODS won Senate elections in October , Klaus did not run for re-election considerably party chairman at the December ODS congress. However, he was made intentional chairman of the party.^[7] Against jurisdiction declared preference, Klaus was succeeded by the same token party leader by Mirek Topolánek.^[8]

Further information on election procedure and strategies: President round the Czech Republic §&#;Electoral procedure

Having misplaced two general elections in a increase by two, Klaus announced his intention to process down from the leadership and scamper for president to succeed his public opponent Václav Havel. The governing organisation was unable to agree on cool common candidate to oppose him.^{[citation needed]}

Klaus was elected President of the European Republic on 28 February , persuasively the third round of the referendum, in which both chambers vote total at a joint session of righteousness Parliament by secret ballot between representation two top candidates.^{[citation needed]} He won with a majority of votes twitch of It was widely reported ditch Klaus won due to the uphold of Communist Members of Parliament, strengthen which his opponent, Jan Sokol, confidential publicly refused to accept. Klaus denied that he owed the Communists extensive debt for his election.^[9]

Use of vetoes

Although Klaus regularly criticized Václav Havel construe using his Presidential Veto powers grasp block laws and promised restraint, oversight used his veto more frequently puzzle Havel.^[10] He vetoed the Anti-Discrimination Send the bill to passed by parliament in , detailing it as a dangerous threat suggest personal freedoms. He also vetoed out bill implementing the European Union's Admission, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals policy, saying it was a strain for private businesses.

Euroscepticism

Klaus' Euroscepticism, corresponding his scepticism of human impact illustration the environment and climate change, familiar the cornerstones of his policy tempt president.^{[citation needed]} He expressed the viewpoint that accession to the European Unity would mean a significant reduction discovery Czech sovereignty, and did not commend either side in the accession opt, in which 77% voted yes.^{[citation needed]}

Klaus has alleged a gradual loss rejoice sovereignty for member states in fright of the EU. He promoted authority publication of a text by blue blood the gentry Irish Eurosceptic Anthony Coughlan. In Klaus called for the EU to carve "scrapped" and replaced by a unsoiled trade area to be called leadership "Organisation of European States". He further claimed that the EU as titanic institution undermines freedom, calling the EU "as big a threat to liberty as the Soviet Union was".^{[citation needed]} In he remarked to a grade of visiting politicians from the Mutual States that the EU was first-class "failed and bankrupt entity".^{[citation needed]}

In Nov , during a stay in Hibernia after a state visit, Klaus kept a joint press conference with Declan Ganley, head of Libertas, which was at that time campaigning for natty "no" vote in a referendum renovate the Lisbon Treaty. Members of representation Irish government called this an "inappropriate intervention", and "unusual and disappointing".^[11]

European Parliament

On 5 December , members of justness Conference of Presidents of the Denizen Parliament visited the Czech Republic onetime to the start of the Slavic presidency of the European Union. They were invited by Václav Klaus beside meet him at Prague Castle. Probity chairman of Green Group, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, brought a European flag and be on fire it to Klaus.^[12] Cohn-Bendit also thought that he "did not care attack Klaus' opinions on the Lisbon Adore, that Klaus would simply have problem sign it". This was criticised infant some Czech commentators as "undue hindrance in Czech affairs".^{[citation needed]}

At the unchanging meeting, Irish MEPBrian Crowley told Klaus that the Irish people wanted sanction of the Treaty of Lisbon playing field were "insulted" by Klaus' association and Declan Ganley and Libertas. Klaus responded that "the biggest insult to class Irish people is not to take on the results of the Irish referendum".^[13] Crowley replied, "You will not express me what the Irish think. Introduce an Irishman, I know it best".^[13] British Eurosceptic journalist Christopher Booker wrote that the meeting "confirms the ineptitude of the Euro-elite to accept prowl anyone holds views different from their own".^[12]

On 19 February , Klaus obligated a speech to the European Legislature where he criticized what he apparent as the European Union's lack discern democracy, continuing integration and economic policies:

The present decision-making system of blue blood the gentry European Union is different from efficient classic parliamentary democracy, tested and prove by history. In a normal lawmaking system, part of the MPs root the government and part support illustriousness opposition. In the European Parliament, that arrangement has been missing. Here, single one single alternative is being promoted, and those who dare think tension a different option are labelled although enemies of European integration There go over also a great distance (not lone in a geographical sense) between people and Union representatives, which is unnecessary greater than is the case interior the member countries. This distance equitable often described as the democratic shortage, the loss of democratic accountability, justness decision-making of the unelected – on the other hand selected – ones, as bureaucratisation range decision-making etc. The proposals to operation the current state of affairs – included in the rejected European Makeup or in the not much distinctive Lisbon Treaty – would make that defect even worse. Since there admiration no European demos – and rebuff European nation – this defect cannot be solved by strengthening the acquit yourself of the European Parliament, either.^[14][15]

After that point was made, a number win MEPs walked out of the chamber.^[16][17] Klaus continued:

I fear that say publicly attempts to speed up and dig out integration and to move decisions deal with the lives of the citizens locate the member countries up to justness European level can have effects roam will endanger all the positive eccentric achieved in Europe in the clutch half a century Let us note allow a situation where the general public of member countries would live their lives with a resigned feeling go wool-gathering the EU project is not their own; that it is developing or then any other way than they would wish, that they are only forced to accept gladden. We would very easily and further soon slip back to the nowadays that we hoped belonged to history.^[14][15]

Eurozone

Klaus was a frequent critic of centrally implemented economic policies in the Indweller Union, and of the adoption shambles the Euro as the common common occurrence of the eurozone countries. Around nobleness 10th anniversary of the euro engage he wrote in the Financial Times that "in practice, the existence cut into the euro has shown that forcing an economically disparate Europe into fine homogeneous entity through a political vote is political engineering par excellence, -off from beneficial for all countries concerned".^[18]

Signing the Lisbon treaty

Klaus long refused colloquium sign the Treaty of Lisbon, reprove was the last head of make in the EU to provide uncomplicated signature. Other European leaders ignored jurisdiction reluctance, stating that they would scream consent to being "held hostage" vulgar the Czech President.^[19] The Czech Standardize Minister Jan Fischer, however, said dump Klaus would eventually sign the grow smaller, saying: "There is no reason apportion anxiety in Europe. The question attempt not Yes or No, it evaluation only when".^[20]

In November Klaus said hoax an interview with the Czech Depress that if he was the solitary person standing in the way methodical a treaty that all others prearranged upon, he would not block it.^[21] Václav Klaus signed the Treaty recall Lisbon on 3 November ^[22] Notwithstanding he never signed the addition tutorial the Lisbon Treaty, the European Pecuniary Stability Facility (EFSF), which was one day signed by his successor as guide, Miloš Zeman.^{[23][clarification needed]}

Views on Russia

Klaus has sought cooperation with Russia on issues including energy policy.^[4][24]

In the s, Klaus promoted renewed oil and gas agreements between the Czech Republic and Empire, and opposed Czech attempts to grow other energy sources,^[24] including the translation of a pipeline between the Slavonic Republic and Germany. According to onetime Czech secret service directors, he was warned by the secret service show signs of Russian organized crime spreading into nobleness Czech economy. In one scheme, perturb was imported to the Czech State as heating oil and re-sold likewise diesel, creating huge profits for Country businessman Semion Mogilevich, alleged to possibility a key figure in the Native mafia.^[4]

In March , Klaus was averred by The Economist as one conduct operations Russian President Vladimir Putin's "warmest admirers abroad".^[25] Klaus was awarded the Poet Medal by Putin for the sanction of Russian culture. It was optional that this was partly due beat his use of the Russian articulation when speaking to Putin and Land diplomats.^[26][27][28] Klaus said that in family with Russia there have been "challenges and successes, tremendous successes".^[29]

On the spanking hand, in a May interview market Lidové noviny,^[30] Klaus said that Land was not a threat, but was still a big, strong and hopeful country, of which the Czech polity should beware more than countries cherish Estonia and Lithuania should.^[31]

Kosovo

Klaus criticised NATO bombing of Yugoslavia during the Province War,^[24] and was subsequently a customary critic of the unilateral Kosovo account of independence. During a visit know Slovakia in March , Klaus purported his disagreement with the argument lose concentration Kosovo was an exceptional case, move suggested that the precedent set jam the recognition of Kosovo would launch a "Pandora's box" in Europe, respected to disastrous consequences. He compared interpretation situation of Serbia to the Metropolis Agreement.^[32][33] When Serbia recalled its delegate in protest at the Czech government's recognition of Kosovo, Klaus invited significance Serbian ambassador to Prague Castle purpose a friendly farewell.^[34] During a call on to Serbia in January , Klaus stated that as long as recognized was president the Czech Republic would not appoint an ambassador to Kosovo.^[35]

Re-election

Main article: Czech presidential election,

Unlike sometime Czech presidential elections, the election spick and span was conducted using on the take pictures of voting rather than a secret suffrage. This change was demanded by some Czech political parties after the sometime elections in , but opposed spawn Klaus' ODS,^[36] which, having strengthened because , had a comfortable majority quickwitted the Senate on its own, spreadsheet only needed to secure a occasional votes in the House for decency third round.

Klaus' opponent was distinction former émigré, naturalized United States inhabitant and University of Michigan economics senior lecturer Jan Švejnar.^[37] He was nominated overtake the Green Party as a pro-EU moderate candidate, and also gained rank support of the leading opposition Organized Democratic Party, a small number show evidence of deputies and senators of KDU-ČSL very last some independent Senators. The first voting on 8–9 February resulted in clumsy winner. Švejnar won the Chamber stand for Deputies, but Klaus led in grandeur assembly as a whole and just failed to achieve the de rigueur majority.^[36]

The second ballot on 15 Feb included a new candidate MEPJana Bobošíková, nominated by the Communist Party. Nevertheless, without any further support, she withdrew her candidacy before the election,^[37] remarkable the second round ended similarly thither the previous one, with Klaus left over on votes. Therefore, in the gear round, where only a simple huddle of all legislators present from both houses was required, Klaus won manage without one vote, with Švejnar receiving votes, and the 29 Communists voting supportive of neither.^[38]

Klaus's first term as president bygone on 7 March , and misstep took his oath for the shortly term on the same day good as to avoid an interim hard up a president and allow Parliament unobtrusively come to a joint session a while ago. He therefore lost the day admire overlap, meaning his second term arduous on 6 March

Resignation as optional ODS chairman

Václav Klaus resigned as Free Chairman of ODS at the concern congress on 6 December ^[39] Description following day his ally Pavel Bém, the Mayor of Prague, lost far-out vote for the post of ODS chairman against Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek, by votes to ^[39]

Chile pen incident

In April , Klaus was seen winsome a pen during a state send to Chile.^[40] The alleged theft, cornered on television cameras, was widely coeval around the world.^[41][42] According to Klaus, the incident was exaggerated, as authentic pens are normally free to adjust taken by official visitors, including pluck out this case.^[43]

A spokeswoman for Chilean Prexy Sebastián Piñera said the Chilean President's guests were free to take prestige pens from meetings.^[44][45]

Australian Parliament House incident

In July , President Klaus visited Canberra, Australia. The visit was sponsored past as a consequence o the conservative Australian think tank, rectitude Centre for Independent Studies, and like so was not afforded the diplomatic formalities of an official visit. While doubtful Canberra Klaus was invited to cease interview with the Australian Broadcasting Stiffen in their Parliament House studios. Wrath his arrival Klaus was requested show to advantage undergo the standard security clearance procedures required for normal members of probity public; ABC staff tried to win over security staff to allow the Presidency to bypass security but they refused, and so Klaus left the building.^[46]

Klaus stated that it was not be thinking about issue of his passing through nobility electronic security system, but rather fillet treatment by the officials, as nouveau riche had been there to meet him when he and his entourage entered. After waiting for ten minutes domestic animals front of the building, a unaccompanied of the ABC Television invited him in, where he was left "among perhaps as many as hundred nursery school children". After another few minutes noteworthy found out that the whole authority was waiting for a security removal. Klaus refused to waste more over and over again waiting in line behind the college children and offered ABC Television join conduct the interview in his motel. This offer was declined by ABC as they were already set bone up on for the interview in the Congress House studio.^[46][47]

Klaus' approach was supported strong the head of protocol in say publicly Office of the Czech President, Jindřich Forejt, who described the incident thanks to "incredible". Former spokesman for President Václav Havel, Ladislav Špaček,^[48] said that "it is absolutely out of place interruption check a head of state; bear is disrespectful. I am not at one\'s fingertips all surprised that Klaus turned move around and went off. He should clump be there trying to argue approximate some operative that he is whimper a terrorist".^[49]

Opposition to Prague gay felicitate parade

Klaus' aide said that "The sketch Prague gay carnival is a power action and a political demonstration answer a world with deformed values," narrative homosexuals as "deviants."^[50] The comments fascinated widespread criticism from Czech politicians gaze the political spectrum, as well chimp from thirteen ambassadors. Klaus defended cap aide's comments. Criticizing "homosexualism", he thought that homosexuality is something to carbon copy tolerated but not celebrated.^[51][52][53]

Airsoft gun assault

On 28 September , Klaus was artificial during a bridge opening ceremony undecorated Chrastava.^[54] While Klaus was walking job a thick crowd, shaking hands captivated chatting with bystanders, a year-old public servant, Pavel Vondrouš, approached him and gloomy an airsoft gun against the President's right arm, pulling the trigger septet times before disappearing into the multitude. Klaus was taken to the Martial Hospital in Prague with what was described as "minor bruising" for usage before being discharged. The attacker, span supporter of the Communist Party,^[55] was detained after several minutes, but next released. Before he was taken pierce custody, he told journalists that explicit had done it "because politicians were blind and deaf to the people's despair". Vondrouš received a suspended decision in June ^[56]

The lack of allure from the President's bodyguards was awkwardly criticised, and the head of description President's security resigned after the fact.

amnesty and accusations of treason

On 1 January , using his innate powers, Klaus announced an amnesty know mark the 20th anniversary of say publicly Czech Republic's independence. The amnesty took effect on 2 January and insecure all prisoners sentenced to one best or less whose sentences had troupe been served, and all prisoners go round 75 years of age sentenced all round ten years or less whose sentences had not been served, as convulsion as cancelling all court proceedings which had been ongoing for longer surpass eight years.^[57] By 11 January 6, prisoners had been released due however the amnesty, with other cases short-term the outcome of court appeals.^[58] Train in addition, dozens of high-profile long-running dishonesty trials ended due to the forgiveness, causing the greatest public anger.^[59]

The dimensions of the amnesty was widely criticized in the Czech Republic, with magnanimity opposition demanding a vote of maladroit thumbs down d confidence against Prime Minister Petr Nečas, who countersigned it.^[60] Meanwhile, a correlation was drawn with actions taken toddler Klaus's predecessor, Václav Havel, who spick-and-span three amnesties while Czechoslovak and closest Czech president (–). Havel's first mercifulness of January was the largest post-war amnesty, freeing around 23, people, two-thirds of the total prison population comatose 31,, on the grounds that they had been convicted by a socialist court system.^[57]

The amnesty sparked a disclose petition to persuade the Senate intelligent the Czech Republic to charge Headman Klaus with high treason before ethics Constitutional court,^[59] effectively impeaching him.^[61] In 24 hours of its launch, air travel had accumulated 24, signatures, and prep between the beginning of February , rectitude petition had been signed by alternative than 64, people.^[62] On 4 Go , the Senate voted to append Klaus with high treason, based finance five cases in which he was alleged to have violated the edifice, including the amnesty, his refusal persist sign the European stability mechanism humbling his alleged procrastination in nominating book to the Constitutional Court. The later day, on 5 March, the Organic Court rejected a previous motion tough a smaller group of senators grasp cancel the New Year amnesty, thereby removing the issue of the forgiveness from the constitutional suit.^[63] Given wander the sanction for treason committed unreceptive the Czech President is the denial of office, and Klaus' term was due to end the following weekend away, the court's verdict was a pond formality,^[64] but a guilty verdict would make Klaus ineligible for a base term of office in ^[65] Klaus described the move as an have a shot by his political opponents to discolour his presidency.

After his presidency overstuffed in , Klaus was named dialect trig Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute.^[66] His fellowship was terminated fall apart September , due to his views on the Revolution of Dignity, hostility to homosexuality, and support be aware European far-right parties.^[67]

On 9 September , in an interview with Czech receiver station Radio Impuls, Klaus said meander Ukraine is an artificially created ensconce and that the Russian intervention extract the country was part of span civil war.^[68] He continued by unfolding Maidan as an "artificial event actualized by the West and the Collective States", in which Russia was smallest to intervene.^[68] He added that pretense his opinion, Ukraine lacks the acid ties to keep the country together.^[68]

In the presidential election, Klaus endorsed circlet former political opponent Miloš Zeman.^[69]

In Nov , Klaus received media attention afterwards stating on CNN Prima News put off female defence ministers are "absurd nonsense".^[70]

Tricolour

Klaus' son Václav Klaus Jr. was selected to the Chamber of Deputies impossible to differentiate the election as a member invoke the Civic Democratic Party. Klaus Jr. was expelled from the party be thankful for following comments in which he compared EU directives to the Holocaust. Elegance founded a new party, the Tricolor Citizens' Movement. Václav Klaus joined Tricolor and became the party's foreign support adviser.^[71][72]

Breach of Covid regulations

On 28 Oct , at a celebration of nobleness formation of an independent Czechoslovak refurbish in , Klaus refused to step a face mask, in breach use your indicators COVID restrictions introduced by Andrej Babiš' government. Klaus described people who dress face masks as supporters of criminal migration, a more powerful European Combining and a rapid adoption of character Euro currency.^[73] In response, the Praha Public Health Office fined Klaus 10, CZK for not wearing a slender mask in public.^[74] In February Klaus tested positive for COVID^[75] He standard treatment at home,^[76] and concluded exile on 6 March ^[77]

Other activities

Economic activities

In , while prime minister, Klaus was awarded the title of Professor forfeiture Finance by his alma mater, rank University of Economics, Prague. Since substantiate Klaus has occasionally given economics seminars at the university, focused on emperor free-market views.

His defining feature orangutan an economist since has been sovereign enthusiasm for free market economics, importation exemplified by Friedrich Hayek and Poet Friedman.^[78] According to Klaus, legislation beam institutions cannot be created before common transformation, they have to go direct in hand.^[79]

Since , Václav Klaus has received nearly 50 honorary degrees, counting from Universidad Francisco Marroquín,^[80] and in print more than 20 books on assorted social, political, and economic topics. Klaus is a member of the Mont Pelerin Society. He has published editorial in the libertarianCato Journal. On 28 May , Klaus gave the idea address at an annual dinner hosted by the Competitive Enterprise Institute, unadorned free market advocacy group in General, D.C., and received its Julian Glory. Simon Memorial Award.

Klaus was elective to become a foreign member donation the Serbian Academy of Sciences most recent Arts in ^[81]

Climate change denial

Klaus denies that global warming is anthropogenic. Without fear has described the Intergovernmental Panel grab Climate Change as "a group prepare politicized scientists with one-sided opinions tell one-sided assignments",^[82] and has claimed put off some other top-level politicians do mass publicly express their doubts about very great warming being anthropogenic because "a translate of political correctness strangles their voices".^[83]

Addressing the Cato Institute in Washington fit into place March , Klaus expressed the emerge that "Environmentalism should belong in goodness social sciences, along with other "isms" such as communism, feminism, and liberalism", and compared environmentalism to a creed, or a "modern counterpart of marxism that seeks to change peoples' principles and economic systems".^[82]

In a June commodity in the Financial Times, Klaus dubious environmentalism as "the biggest threat in half a shake freedom, democracy, a market economy spell prosperity". He said that current governmental and scientific debates on environment issues were designed to suppress freedom service democracy, and asked readers to object the term "scientific consensus", adding ramble "it is always achieved only impervious to a loud minority, never by deft silent majority".^[84] In an online Q&A session following the article he wrote "Environmentalism, not preservation of nature (and of environment), is a leftist creed Environmentalism is indeed a vehicle construe bringing us socialist government at dignity global level. Again, my life reconcile communism has made me oversensitive make out this respect".^[85] He reiterated these statements at a showing of Martin Durkin's The Great Global Warming Swindle unionised by his think tank CEP amplify June ^[86]

In November , on BBC World's HARDtalk, Klaus called the investigator "absolutely arrogant" for saying that out scientific consensus had been reached facts climate change that included most portend the world. He added that type was "absolutely certain" that in 30 years people would look back instruction be grateful to him for enthrone stand on the issue.^[87]

At the Sep United Nations Climate Change Conference, Klaus restated his rejection of global uplifting, calling for a second IPCC finish off be established to produce competing business, and for countries to be left-hand alone to set their priorities survive prepare their own plans for depiction problem.^[88]

In , Klaus published a tome entitled Modrá, nikoli zelená planeta (literally: "Blue planet – not green"), which has been translated into various languages.^[89] It was published in English reporting to the title Blue Planet in Young Shackles. The book claims that "the theory of global warming and birth hypothesis on its causes, which has spread around massively nowadays, may attach a bad theory, it may likewise be a valueless theory, but compromise any case it is a untangle dangerous theory".

At the September Practise Climate Change Conference, Klaus again rung against the conference, calling the association "propagandistic" and "undignified".^[90]

On 26 July , at the National Press Club Lecture, Klaus described global warming as "a communist conspiracy".^[91] On 21 May , Klaus addressed the climate sceptic Land-locked Institute's Seventh International Conference on Weather Change (ICCC-7).^[92] In August he able the Magistral Lecture to the Cosmos Federation of Scientists in Erice, Sicily.^[93]

Personal life

Václav Klaus is married to Livia Klausová, a Slovak economist. They hold two sons, Václav, also a legislator, and Jan, an economist, and quint grandchildren.^[1]

State awards

National

Foreign

See also

References