Prague - For some a thorn in the eye and an arrogant populist who mocks others if they disagree with him. For others a lone crusader and a defender of liberty, an example to be followed. Václav Klaus has plenty of enemies throughout Europe but he also has numerous devotees around the globe.
His appearance at Tuesday's Czech Constitutional Court´s session resuscitated a debate on Václav Klaus's role as president and Czech Republic's forthcoming chairmanship of the European Union.
And while the Czech Constitutional Court has been examining the Lisbon Treaty' s constitutionality, the international media has been typically examining Václav Klaus's euroscepticism and personality.
Altuálně.cz CzechNews has prepared a digest of what appeared in the media and their discussion forums around the globe in the past few days.
Clipped mustache and Margaret Thatcher
The US broadsheet daily New York Times describes Václav Klaus as an "iconoclast with a perfectly clipped mustache," predicting that his "sheer will and inflammatory talk are likely to have some impact."
The Austrian daily Die Presse has recently headlined an article about Klaus "Oh God, Václav Klaus will come next," fearing his anti-EU attitudes could influence Czech lawmakers' ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon.
"The lack of Czech ratification so far has raised doubts in the EU about the likely performance of the 6-month Czech EU presidency, starting in January," is the warning in the Irish Times.
"The Provocateur from Prague," reads a headline in the British daily Times Online. It also reminds the reader that "his [Klaus's] anti-Europe credentials stretch back to his failed general election campaign in 2002, when he opposed the Czech Republic's entry to the EU. As president he refused to give any direction to the Czech electorate during a referendum campaign on the issue, except to say that joining the EU would significantly reduce Czech sovereignty."
Angel or devil?
Klaus's controversial personality divides people into admirers or detractors. Almost nothing in between. The discussion that follows the Times Online profile article shows how black and white divided people are over Klaus's set of beliefs.
It is mostly American and Czech readers fighting in the discussion forum over his contribution to the Czech economy and EU.
Jeff from the US Virginia thanks "the people of the Czech Republic for a brilliant mind." Another fan of Klaus from the US claims to be "ready to launch a movement to amend the Constitution of the United States, to allow us [Americans] to elect Mr. Klaus in 2012. He has the courage and genius our American leaders lack."
Meanwhile, Petr from Denver chalenges Czechs while saying Václav Klaus is an "arrogant and populist politician who routinely disregards facts and mocks opinions of experts to satisfy his ego. Most intelligent people in the Czech Republic cannot stand him. But since the majority of people are not capable of reflection, he wins the popular vote easily."
