(03/31/09) -

Czech Opposition to Missile Shield Grows

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The vast majority of people in the Czech Republic continue to oppose their country’s participation in the construction of a defence shield for the United States, according to a poll by CVVM. 70 per cent of respondents disagree with the plan, and 72 per cent want the government to call a referendum on the issue.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The vast majority of people in the Czech Republic continue to oppose their country’s participation in the construction of a defence shield for the United States, according to a poll by CVVM. 70 per cent of respondents disagree with the plan, and 72 per cent want the government to call a referendum on the issue.

In December 2002, then U.S. president George W. Bush announced plans for the development of initial defence capabilities, which include ground-based and sea-based missile interceptors, as well as sensors located in space. Washington has explained the project as a means to defend the U.S. and its European allies from a potential attack by Iran or North Korea.

In January 2007, the U.S. issued a formal request to place a radar base in the Czech Republic—in a military area southwest of Prague—as well as 10 interceptor missiles in Poland.

The Czech Republic—a member of both the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)—is currently negotiating with the U.S. the construction of the radar base. Some EU officials have asked the Czech Republic to include the continental group in these discussions, but the government of Czech prime minister Mirek Topolanek has so far declined to do so.

In July 2008, the main treaty on the radar base was signed by U.S. state secretary Condoleezza Rice and her Czech counterpart Karel Schwarzenberg. The deal has yet to be ratified by Czech legislators.

Some countries doubt that Iran could actually represent a danger for the U.S. and its allies in Europe and fear the missile defence shield could eventually become a threat to other nations instead—including Russia.

Political instability will likely delay any decision on the country’s participation in the missile shield. On Mar. 24, Topolanek lost a no-confidence motion against the governing coalition. The motion was related to alleged wrongdoing by lawmaker Petr Wolf. Opposition lawmakers also voted against the government to protest what they regard as failed economic policies to deal with the global financial meltdown.

Under the terms of the Czech constitution, an early election can only take place if Parliament passes a special law for this purpose, or after three consecutive failed attempts to form a new administration.

On Mar. 27, Jan Tamas, an organizer of protests against the missile shield, said he was glad the Topolanek administration was admonished, declaring, "It’s a big victory for democracy in our country. We’re glad that a government which ignored the will of a majority of people has fallen."

Polling Data

Do you support or oppose the construction of a U.S. missile defence shield base in the Czech Republic?

Do you support or oppose holding a referendum to settle the issue?

Source: CVVM
Methodology: Interviews with 1,133 Czech adults, conducted from Feb. 2 to Feb. 9, 2009. Margin of error is 3 per cent.