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An interview with PaedDr. Alena Gajdůšková,
1st Vice - Chairwoman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic
Leaders Magazine IV/ 2009

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You are the highest positioned woman in the Czech politics at present. How did you get there?

I am deeply convinced that I would have never been elected if there had not been many years of work in municipal politics behind me. People obviously knew me and the election district of the Senate is relatively small. Moreover, I had experience that manifested during the election campaign system. However, I consider my biggest success that people elected me in 1990 in free elections repeatedly and I managed to win in my election district.


Was it difficult to win recognition among men?

I still think that the Czech society looks at women’s career a little bit with contempt. Yet, women scarcely ever fight for position. You keep working and if you want to become a significant partner for men, you have to work a lot. In a trice a woman achieves it, she acquires certain advantage. Colleagues do not take the liberty of being aggressive.


The Senate expressed consent with the Lisbon Treaty ratification. If, however, it is not going to be signed by the President, it cannot take effect.

I am saying that at this point the President does not have any other choice but to sign the Lisbon Treaty. It is in his competence. At the same time, he has the right to delegate the preparation of the contract to other members of the government which President Václav Klaus has already done. The Prime Minister with President’s approval negotiated the Lisbon Treaty and handed it to the Parliament as he committed to sign it on the international field. Both chambers of the Parliament gave assent to it, they are connived with the Lisbon Treaty wording and give the assent to the President that he can sign what he has negotiated. However, Mr. President is putting it differently. He claims that he is not going to sign. If he did not want to sign it if he did not agree with it, he should not have submitted it to us.


Does the Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) prepare any steps in this context?

The Lisbon Treaty ratification is not only the ČSSD´s business; basically, it is the concern of the legislative authority as such and thus related to all political parties. Currently, it is necessary to wait if the President turns to the Constitutional Court. According to the Czech Constitution he is obliged to do so immediately. I called upon Mr. President that if he had any obstacle to his tenure of office, he should step back. The Constitution says that if the President is not able to exercise his duties, his competence has to be transferred. The President’s behaviour is inconceivable indeed. It erodes the legislative authority and weakens the legal state if the head of state does not act according to the duties imposed by the Constitution.


Nonetheless, 17 senators of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) proclaimed they were going to file an action to the Constitutional Court to decide whether the Lisbon Treaty was in accordance with the Czech constitutional order.

Yes, again they should act without delay. So far, no claim has been submitted. In a way, once you observe the entire process of agreements negotiation and ratification, it is absurd that the President protested against something what is his competence to negotiate. Mr. President has not used his time and now he has not any.


Do you have any signals from the EU institutions concerning the ratification process in the Czech Republic?

All we have met so far, including the European Commission President, highlighted the indispensability of the successful completion of the Lisbon Treaty ratification. Should be the Czech EU Presidency evaluated successfully, the Lisbon Treaty has to be ratified. The change of the government was rather inconvenient, yet it is not essential at present. The substantial for the whole Europe is the Lisbon Treaty ratification.


How do you perceive the further EU integration?

The further EU integration is inevitable. As long as Europe does not sound with one voice we are not able to be a strong global player. Any EU member state does not manage to ensure and even increase their citizens’ living standard, citizens’ security, speak nothing of the environment. It can indeed look like Europe is far away as though it would not relate to individuals. However, it essentially concerns any person. The Lisbon Treaty involves one more thing. National politicians are getting under cover behind the well known “Brussels instructs”. They unwillingly admit that they are taking part in Brussels issues. Unfortunately, people are becoming only little aware of to what degree also decision making in Europe influences their daily living. Europe is a genius project, it is utterly democratic and the Lisbon Treaty strengthens it even more.


According to you, is the European Union an option for the current economic crisis solution as well?

Yes, it is absolutely obvious that the crisis and its consequences are the issues no EU member country is able to manage separately. The Czech Republic with its measures can take care of, protect and prevent the worst social fall-outs concerning particular persons. This is also in the gesture of national states. However, the certainty that our economy recovers completely can be ensured only by joint steps within the European framework. Well, at least within Europe. Preferably on the global scale, yet again only if Europe is a relevant actor as a unit. Otherwise it will not be able to get involved in the global solution.


Statistics show that the majority of people in the Czech Republic are pro-European. How do you explain the growing nationalism and extremism in our country?

It primarily concerns young generation. They do not know some things and do not realize consequences of their behaviour. Their motto is one nation. Yet, they have forgotten that the nation would not have existed for a long time if Hitler had finished up his work. Moreover, unfortunately the extreme rights cooperate with educated elites. However, I see the problem in morals, education itself does not suffice. The whole society has to fight xenophobia; racism and extremism and immediately.


How?

The society needs to work with people of all groups. And thus, to set up public opinion. The way how public media approached the whole thing was totally unconscionable in this respect. They provided PR services for this group and their activities for free. The Czech Television and the Czech Broadcasting for instance notified in advance where neo-Nazis were going to meet. In this context, I even wrote to the Syndicate of Journalists. I have not received any response so far. This is one distinct problem. Another problem is that some politicians basically say racist statements as well. A change is necessary here.


You work as a patients’ ombudsman for Moravia at present. According to you, is the health care system in the Czech Republic at satisfactory level?

Our health care system is of high quality. We manage to ensure for a health care at world level and at the same time very cheap. A great problem seems to be that the previous health care minister Julínek put doctors against patients and patients against doctors.


Can you specify it?

I mean primarily the imposition of the fee for health care. I am fundamentally against fees making barriers in the access to care. It makes problems to people and it does not concern just social cases. So, it can happen that those people counting every crown will really not go to see a doctor. These are families with small children, retired, unemployed, and socially weak people. Moreover, it can also be people with disorders which do not hurt as diabetics or people with high or low pressure. These patients are a big problem. They have to be permanently monitored. If they do not attend regular check-ups, the treatment is spoiled. The followup therapy then costs much more. Moreover, the Constitutional Court stated that if a barrier in the access to care because of the fee imposition appeared, the legislator was obliged to cancel them.


Do you have time for your hobbies? How do you relax??

My work is my hobby. I do not actually have time for anything else. I have two granddaughters and this is the best relaxation. My original profession is a teacher, so kids and young people always refresh me. I enjoy talking to them. We also live next to a forest and I am glad I can go out for a while, sit down in the garden or walk in forest. This is the greatest rest for me.


By Pavlína Holancová