Speech of Prime Minister of the CR, Mirek Topolánek at the session of the Association of European Senates at Valdštejn Palace in Prague on 28.9.2006
Dear ladies, dear gentlemen,
Today's opportunity to speak to you means for me not only pleasant duty, but also nice recollection of years that I spent in chairs of the Czech Senate. Therefore I know well what some deputies thing of the role of the second chamber. And I want to appease you: do not take it so seriously. Even such an useless political creature as a senator, can reach the position of the prime minister.
For that matter, talks on dissolution of the second chamber are part of the political folklore. As I say with pleasure, countries that apply bicameralism debate a lot on the dissolution of the second chamber, states that have unicameral system debate with the same passion on a necessity of its establishment. I, of course, do not forget that I started my nation-wide political career in the Senate. Regardless of those who criticize, I am convinced that the second chamber has its importance.
Perhaps I would surprise you a lot if I said something else. Therefore I add right away what are basis of my conviction. Based on my personal experience, I can confirm that the second chamber operates like a kind of a filter, which makes legislation process more effective. And it is valid in spite of the fact that in the Czech constitutional system is relatively easy for the lower chamber to vote out the Senate. The important thing is that senators may have more time to form an opinion on important norms and to debug them. In many cases deputies approve a law in the wording of senators – just because changes made by senators are not based on ideology and party loyalty, but they are based on expert's assessment of a problem and on the logic.
The Senate in our environment also helps to enhance political culture and it is also because of the fact that unlike deputies or prime ministers, we assume our office as late as in more mature age. But not only for that reason. The upper chamber stands a bit out of the main struggle for power, which takes place on the line the Chamber of Deputies – the Government. On the one hand it evokes doubts regarding utility of the Senate, on the other hand it enables senators to assess problems step back from them and to assess them with dispassionate point of view and more matter-of factly. It has been shown many times in exalted moments, that it was just the second chamber the voice of reason had come from - the voice that can help to restore confidence of citizens in the parliamentary democracy.
Last but not least the Senate and its majority electoral system is a solid barrier against ultras. Sládek´s republicans have never penetrated into the second chamber and in case of communists, their number was minimal. I am sure that just the two-round majority system does not eliminate small parties, on the contrary, it gives a chance to everybody, even to an individual, if he/she shows by his performance that he/she is able to integrate, not to polarize and separate citizens. The two-round majority system leads to the policy of consensus, it edges out non-systematic noisy persons, as well as arrogant careerists. It is, as I think, a value that we need very much just now.
What I have said here is a result of my experience; it is not a result of some comparative analysis of parliamentary systems. I am of the opinion that it is rather a problem for a political scientist. I am speaking for myself – and I repeat again how much I appreciate the fact that I could regard the work of the Senate from within. These years were very productive for me and I use even nowadays experience gained. Therefore I say clearly: if somebody wants to dissolve the Senate, he/she cannot expect to receive my voice.
Thank you for your attention
