Vaclav Klaus
Vaclav Klaus
Václav Klausis a Czech economist and politician who served as the second President of the Czech Republic from 2003 to 2013. He also served as the second and last Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, federal subject of the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic, from July 1992 until the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in January 1993, and as the first Prime Minister of an independent Czech Republic from 1993 to 1998...
NationalityCzechoslovakian
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth19 June 1941
europe democracy eastern-europe
EU didn't advance our [Eastern Europe] democracy by a single millimeter.
body facts global-warming
"not a scientific body capable of accurately assessing the facts about global warming".
mistake global-warming fatal-mistakes
What is concisely referred to as global warming, is a fatal mistake of the present time.
voice political doubt
Other top-level politicians do not express their global warming doubts because a whip of political correctness strangles their voice.
past issues political
My main concern is the political dimension of European integration. This is one of the most important issues of all, as far as I'm concerned. It has to do with our past, with our sensitivity, perhaps even our hypersensitivity in this regard.
mean planning sometimes
To talk about planning an economic system is to talk in old terms, and I find myself sometimes having to teach Westers about what the market really means.
office politician seekers
I never intended to be a politician or office-seeker.
understanding prague principles
By the time I returned to Czechoslovakia, I had an understanding of the principles of the market.
expansion constitution significant
EU expansion is, unfortunately, continuing without a constitution, as a gradual process of standardization - and that's far more dangerous. It is very difficult to slow down this process, which is being pushed forward without significant public participation.
spring years people
I was 25 years old and pursuing my doctorate in economics when I was allowed to spend six months of post-graduate studies in Naples, Italy. I read the Western economic textbooks and also the more general work of people like Hayek. By the time I returned to Czechoslovakia, I had an understanding of the principles of the market. In 1968, I was glad at the political liberalism of the Dubcek Prague Spring, but was very critical of the Third Way they pursued in economics.
art reform strategy
It is what makes the reform process an art, not just a science. You have to develop a strategy that tells you what reform measures you should follow and in what sequence.
writing government expression
I also helped write the five-page statement of principles that Civic Forum issued in late November. That was the first public expression of what the new government wanted to do.
country goal priorities
Common foreign policy is completely unnecessary. The various European countries have widely differing priorities, goals and prejudices. It would be wrong to force them all to follow the same course.
dangerous ideology humans
Environmentalism is a dangerous ideology endangering human freedom.