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 to register a party under exactly the designated name by January 21, 2009."Lidovky.cz: Czech MEP Železný establishes Libertas.cz movement", January 21, 2009, Prague Monitor It remained unclear whether the registration had been accomplished in some way on behalf of the European Libertas.eu or without any consent.
Supporters of Železný's Libertas.cz included Jana Bobošíková"Euro Watch: Cyclone Klaus hits Europe", February 5, 2009, Prague Post and Vlastimil Tlustý but not Declan Ganley and his followers, who promptly disavowed the party."Lidovky.cz: Czech MEP's Libertas appears without Ganley's knowledge" 23 January 2009, Prague Monitor However, after Václav Klaus intervened,"Czech president meets MEPs from eurosceptical group", March 5, 2009, Prague Monitor two MPs, Vlastimil Tlustý and Jan Schwippel, changed sides, leaving ODS and joining Železný's Libertas.cz."Czech rebel MPs to join Libertas.cz and run in EP elex", 14:40 31 March 2009, aktualne.centrum.cz"Fleet Sheet: Today´s news: 1.4.2009 09:38 ", from fleet-sheet.respekt.cz This led the European Libertas.eu to a volte-face, now claiming Železný's Libertas.cz an affiliate."MPs who voted against Czech government join Libertas list for European Parliament elections ", 1 April 2009 21:00, libertas.eu
2009 European Parliament elections
The list fielded by Libertas.cz in the 2009 European Parliament elections contained the following 29 candidates:
CodePartyNumber of candidates%Source172Nezávislí demokraté1965.5299no party affiliation620.6953Civic Democratic Party13.45713Libertas.cz26.90701Doktoři (za uzdravení společnosti)13.45
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.
See also Treaty of Lisbon
External links Official site Vlastimil Tlustý - Libertas Ceska on YouTube.
References