Vaclav Klaus faces impeachment over treason charge

Czech lawmakers have narrowly voted to charge country’s outgoing President Vaclav Klaus with high treason.

The upper house voted to refer Vaclav Klaus to the constitutional court to rule on whether he had violated the constitution with a New Year amnesty.

The wide-ranging measures were controversial as they resulted in multiple high-profile corruption cases being suspended.

Vaclav Klaus’s term as president of the country is due to end on Thursday.

Thirty-eight senators in the 81-seat house, controlled by the left-wing opposition, voted to impeach President Vaclav Klaus, with 30 voting against. Only the Senate has such power in the Czech legal system.

The worst punishment Vaclav Klaus faces is the loss of his presidential job, a role the 71-year-old must relinquish later this week having served two terms in office.

President Vaclav Klaus’ New Year measures included an amnesty for many prisoners.

It was not, however, the decision to free some 7,000 prisoners serving sentences of up to a year or cancel all suspended sentences, but rather the halting of the prosecution of cases that had dragged on for more than eight years that caused widespread public anger.

In one fell swoop, a dozen high-profile corruption cases – cases that involve millions of dollars in asset-stripping, bribes and fraud – were thrown out.

The halted prosecutions included that of prominent businessman Tomas Pitr for alleged tax fraud and that of former football association chief Frantisek Chvalovsky for embezzlement.

The senators also accuse Vaclav Klaus of flouting the constitution by refusing to ratify European treaties, and for refusing to rule on the appointment of judges despite being ordered by courts to do so.

The Euroskeptic president held up the ratification of Europe’s landmark Lisbon Treaty, while demanding an opt-out for the country.

Czech Senate is dominated by leftist opponents of Vaclav Klaus, whose departure from office is imminent so this vote is a symbolic – albeit dramatic – end to his presidency.

It is still unclear as to what exactly a guilty verdict would mean as Vaclav Klaus will no longer be in office when the constitutional court delivers its ruling, and the biggest sanction he would face is the loss of his presidential pension.