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Presidential midterm: The Klaus report card

September 7th, 2005 issue

September marks more than the back-to-school date for millions of Czech children: It's also the halfway point in President Václav Klaus' five-year term in office. How well has he performed? We asked five prominent figures, including a European lawmaker, a businessman and a human rights watchdog to write a midterm report card for the head of state, grading him from A (excellent) to F (fail). Then The Prague Post adds its own grade.

Jeffrey Welker chair of the American Chamber of Commerce's Small Business Council.	STYLE: A He's sharp. The man is right on. He learned and watched from some of the world's best. He dresses correctly, he knows when to smile, when to nod his head.	LEADERSHIP: C His biggest success is that he was able to get to the White House to meet George W. Bush. As prime minister in the early 1990s, Klaus supported entrepreneurs and small-business growth massively. You would think he'd now be advising the government to support business, to support good economics. Instead, he's channeling a lot of his energy into the political arena.	STATESMANSHIP: D Klaus comes across as extremely arrogant — that he knows more than the vast majority of world leaders. He does not personally think that multiculturalism in the Czech Republic has ever been successful and [says] that NGOs [nongovernmental organizations] seem to only get in the way here, [but] it doesn't mean that's the way it is in other countries.	ETHICS: C- He fits the norm in this country for politicians. The norm is only partially transparent and only partially serving the public. The rest would be mainly his own agenda.	PROSPECTS: Hard to predict Every day the political arena changes here. If the political situation gets worse, he might want to step out.

Bohumil Doležal Political analyst and adviser to Klaus during the president's tenure as prime minister in the 1990s	STYLE: Declined to give a grade The public in this country sees a well-dressed man with a perfect tie and haircut and doesn't really mind so much that he talks like an uneducated primitive.	LEADERSHIP: C His major success is that he became so popular with the public. That's something he never achieved as prime minister.	STATESMANSHIP: D From a long-term perspective, Klaus has damaged the Czech Republic. It's a disgrace to the country.	ETHICS: F Václav Havel [Klaus's predecessor as president] was a political amateur; Václav Klaus is a skilled political fixer. ... Klaus is telling people what they want to hear ... [for example] his strong anti-Europeanism.	PROSPECTS: F I doubt he will be able to maintain his Euroskepticism for his entire term. But should Klaus manage to win the government over — for example, if the ODS [the opposition center-right Civic Democrats of which Klaus is honorary chairman] win the next election, it would affect relations with the rest of Europe.

Richard Falbr member of the European Parliament for the senior government Social Democrats (ČSSD)	STYLE: C- President Klaus always gives a good impression. ... Prior to assuming office, Klaus said he would not use the presidential veto too often, but today we see that he is using it more than Václav Havel [did]. As for the presidential pardon, Klaus uses this in a well-considered way.	LEADERSHIP: B- He behaves in a populist way, bringing a monarchistic style to the presidency. To the Czech public, Klaus presents himself as the people's protector against the wicked world and Europe.	STATESMANSHIP: F In the European Parliament, hardly anybody takes Klaus seriously; he is seen as an eccentric. That's why he travels to places like Kazakhstan and Iceland but hardly ever to European countries. ... They don't invite him and honestly, why should they? To listen to his anti-EU rhetoric? To see him present his absurd ideas?	ETHICS: F Is he charismatic? Yes, he is. But a moral authority? I seriously doubt that.	PROSPECTS: C He likes to be in office and will do everything possible to stay for a second term. And his chances are high.

Miroslav Ševčík Director of the Liberal Institute in Prague, a think-tank that champions private ownership and the free market	STYLE: A When you compare Klaus with Havel, Klaus is more educated and has more realistic views.	LEADERSHIP: A Havel was a leading personality among intellectuals and for intellectuals. However, he did not understand pragmatic issues very well, especially economics. Klaus has an outstanding knowledge of economics and other related social sciences.	STATESMANSHIP: A As for his critique of the European superstate, the Liberal Institute and myself are very critical of [the superstate] as well.	ETHICS: A Most of the population, including myself, trusts him.	PROSPECTS: A I think that he stands a very good chance of re-election. ... He is much less often described as arrogant now, although there are still people who see him that way.

Jana Chržová director of the Czech branch of the Helsinki Committee, a human rights watchdog and NGO	STYLE: B Media distort reality and not just in the case of Klaus. But I do not have any great objections against the Klaus I know from the media.	LEADERSHIP: B Compared to people in the current government, compared to others in our political establishment, Klaus looks quite good. The current government is the problem, not the president.	STATESMANSHIP: B/C Klaus is very critical of NGOs. At least he's been very consistent on the issue, just like in his critique of the EU.	ETHICS: A When Klaus is arrogant, it's honest arrogance — he means what he says.	PROSPECTS: A If he seeks re-election, he will most likely be re-elected. I do not see any better candidate at the moment.

The Prague Post	STYLE: A- Slick. His suits fit, his mustache always appears perfectly trimmed. Only one weak point: his voice, which lacks the commanding resonance of a leader.	LEADERSHIP: B Firm, verging on authoritarian, his leadership style has mass appeal: Klaus consistently tops the polls as the country's most popular politician.	STATESMANSHIP: D His attacks on the EU constitution prompted Prime Minister Jiří Paroubek to threaten to restrict Klaus' official trips overseas. That makes the Czechs look ludicrous abroad.	ETHICS: D Public attacks on NGOs, multiculturalism, social democrats, intellectuals and environmentalists are reminiscent of those from a dictator like Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus — not worthy of a president of an EU country.	PROSPECTS: B Klaus is ambitious and able. It's only because the political atmosphere is volatile that his future success is not absolutely certain.

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