Prague - Deputy Chairman of Civic Democratic Party (ODS) Petr Bendl believes that the Lisbon Treaty poses a threat to the validity of the Beneš Decrees.
Bendl said this in a political talkshow Otázky Václava Moravce (Questions of Václav Moravec) broadcast by the public service Czech Television Sunday lunch-time.
Grave issue
"The issue of the Beneš Decrees could be reopened, it is a very grave issue," Bendl said. "We should ask for guarantees to keep the issue closed," he added.
The Beneš Decrees is a set of laws, known popularly by the name of the second president of Czechoslovakia Edvard Beneš, were enacted by his exiled government during the World War II and formed basis for stripping the Czech Germans off their property and citizenship after the defeat of Hitler's Germany.
According to Commissioner of Central Bohemian Region David Rath of the Social Democratic Party (ČSSD), no such possibility exists. "You should disclose on what grounds your statement is based on," Rath said. Bendl said that he used the information given to him by the members of the European Parliament.
Another appeal with Constitutional Court?
Ladislav Jakl, Secretary of Czech President Václav Klaus, shares Bendl's fears. "Even the current state of affairs does not give us a legal security in this matter. It is very likely that after the Lisbon Treaty is ratified, this security would be diminished even more," said Jakl, adding that he would advice Václav Klaus, an outspoken euroskeptic to appeal with the Constitutional Court yet again.
"I will advise Václav Klaus to appeal against the Constitutional Court's decision on the Treaty," said Jakl in the TV debate. "I will not disclose what the appeal will be based on. But there is a certain category of issues that could be at risk, if the Lisbon Treaty is approved," Jakl said.
Constitutional Court found the Lisbon Treaty in accord with the Czech Constitution last week. However, given that only a part of the Treaty was dealt with, it is possible for Czech MPs or president to appeal against the Court's decision.
Bendl said that if he was a member of the parliamentary club, he would have done that.
