Speech of the Prime Minister of the CR Mirek Topolánek on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Establishing meeting of the Senate on 19.12.2006

Dear Chairman, dear senators, dear ladies, dear gentlemen

I could have prepared a normal speech for you. And a beautiful one! But I said: no! (Note: It is a paraphrase of a popular TV advertisement)

I could have talked about significance of the Senate. How it has gained its position in the constitutional system. How it helps to increase a political culture. How it succeeds in correction of consequences of legislative storms, which rage in the Chamber of Deputies. About its role of a safeguard against extremists.

And it would have been true. But you know all that, you have heard it many times and more than once from me.

Therefore, I will try today, e few days before Christmas, to speak about the mission of the Senate in a different way.

The role of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies in our constitutional system is similar to the double concept of Christmas holidays. On the one hand it is time of plenty, rush, gifts. On the other hand it should be time of fellowship with our nearest and dearest, time of contemplation, a holiday of spirit.

Material and spiritual role of Christmas can be hardly separated nowadays.

In an ideal case, also our two parliament chambers represent two sides of one coin – democracy. The Chamber of Deputies bears the main burden in the legislation process; it is responsible for the budget and the government. The Senate on the other hand has an opportunity of a detached view; it is not influenced by running time; it is guided rather by enduring values than actual political situation.

Both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate thus represent two powers, on the balance of which prosperity and stability of society depend: a liberal power and a conservative value. Power of change and power of tradition.

Our Senate celebrates only ten years of its existence. It is a mere instant in one-thousand-years-old history of civilization. However, if something is good, it can be recognized in a very short time. The same goes for speeches, of course.

Therefore I quickly head for the conclusion and I only want to add: do not let us ask why we have the Senate, do not let us want to constantly defend its existence and collect reasons against its dissolution. In plain terms, it is here. As well as the Christmas. Let us gravely and in peace enjoy today's celebration and the Christmas.

Thank you for your attention.