Posted on Thursday February 9th, 2023 •
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Vassili Le Moigne, French Councilor for the Czech Republic, discusses the results of the presidency of the Council of the European Union by the Czech Republic which ended in December 2022 and the recent election of Petr Pavel as head of the country.
With the slogan “Europe as a mission”, what were Prague’s priorities for the European Union over the past six months?
Apart from the goal of the presidency and therefore of managing the agenda of the European Union, Czechia had two main goals.
The first is to redress the image of the Czech Republic within the European Union after years of controversy caused by the government led by Prime Minister Babiš entangled in stories of conflicts of interest and embezzlement of European funds. Moreover, President Zeman, like Klaus before him was anti-European Union and very close to China and Russia with even suspicions of corruption.
The second goal was to federate the European Union around the subject of Ukraine and the war waged by Russia as well as the refugees that this war generated.
How have these been affected by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict?
The six months of the Czech presidency have been turned upside down by Russia’s war in Ukraine. Czechia had a large Ukrainian minority before the war. With the war, the number of Ukrainians was multiplied by 6 and this migration/integration was well managed, which gave the presidency a very useful legitimacy within the European Union.
What conclusions can the Czech Republic and the European Union draw from its presidency?
Overall it’s a success. The transition of the presidency from France to the Czech Republic was well prepared, the European agenda moved forward smoothly, support for Ukraine was unified under the Czech presidency and the European summit desired by President Macron and organized in Prague Castle crowned this work perceived as solid and serious. The image of the country has therefore changed and this alone is a big success.
Czechia also elected its new President of the Republic Petr Pavel in mid-January. Can you tell us a little more about his career in the Czech Republic?
After years of cleavage, Chinese and Russian interference in the political and economic life of the country, the Czech Republic needed unity and calm. The new president Pavel, a retired general with the airs of Tomáš Masaryk (the reference president of the golden age of Czechia in the XXth century) brings what the country needs: he is independent, has a serene approach and cooperation with the EU. He is also a diplomat, fluent in English and French (I had the opportunity to test him in particular) while not hesitating to express his opinions on human rights. Having worked at NATO and a career general, he brings this calming career military side with a war 250 kilometers from the Czech Republic.
What role does he play within the parliamentary republic in the Czech Republic?
In theory, it is a ceremonial and moral role but in fact, the previous President Zeman has shown that this role can also be a nuisance. Indeed, the president signs the appointments of judges, ministers and laws that cannot be legal without his initials. President Zeman often refused to sign without exchange of value, thus going beyond the ceremonial side of the role and facing quite politically what the country was not prepared for.
What are the stakes of this election for the country?
Mainly, to put the country back on the path of dialogue, cooperation in Europe, and to give the country a moral vision similar to that of the European Union.
Do you have anything to add ?
My son is 21 years old and has known 20 years of anti-European, pro-Russian presidents who moved backwards within the European Union. With this new president, he will be able to live in a European country not for selfish economic interest but for the vision of being part of an exciting Europe. It’s a future that makes him dream and makes him want to contribute to it.
