Brush Up Your English (Slovníček)
Czech president and well-known eurosceptic Vaclav Klaus is set to join EU leaders at next week's summit to give his views on the future of Europe and its charter, after his former ODS conservative party won Czech elections.
The two topics are among the main themes of the top-level meeting of European heads of state and governments to be held next Thursday and Friday (15-16 June). Under normal conditions, Prague would send its prime minister to represent the Czech republic at the discussion table, as the country's president formal powers are of a limited nature.
The country's outgoing Social Democrat prime minister Jiri Paroubek has repeatedly spoken out against Mr Klaus' statements on Europe being seen as the country's official line.
well-known – dobře známý to be set to do sth. – zaměřit se na, chystat se na view – názor, výhled charter – charta, listina former – bývalý, dřívější elections – volby topic – téma among – mezi top-level – nejvyšší úroveň under condition – za podmínek, za situace prime minister – premier as – neboť, protože formal powers – formální pravomoci to be of …… nature – mít ……character outgoing – odcházející, odstupující repeatedly – opakovaně to speak out against - vystupovat proti, protestovat proti statement – prohlášení official line – oficiální postoj.
However, after elections resulted in the victory of the conservative Civic Democratic party (ODS) - founded by Mr Klaus - Mr Paroubek agreed that the president should go to the summit instead. He argued it would be a reasonable thing to do, given that the Czechs have elected "a eurosceptic government" Czech daily Lidove noviny reported. According to the paper, Mr Klaus himself suggested such a solution, also referring to the election results.
however – nicméně elections – volby to result in – končit výsledkem, mít výsledek victory – vítězství civil – občanský to found – založit should – (modální sloveso) měl/a by instead – místo (koho)to argue – obhajovat, diskutovat, tvrdit reasonable – rozumný given that – za předpokladu že, vezme-li se v úvahu že daily – deník according to – podle Mr Klaus himself – sám pan Klaus (osobně) solution – řešení to refer to – odkazovat na, odvolávat se na result – výsledek.
The ODS is currently trying hard to form a ruling coalition but lacks votes to build up a parliamentary majority as the poll ended in a split by 100 to 100 deputies between the centre-right and left-leaning parties. The Czech president is one of the staunchest critics of Europe's attempts to revive the EU constitution after it was put on ice by the French and Dutch citizens who rejected it in a referendum. Mr Klaus has also openly campaigned against the document's content as such, arguing it would mean a step toward a deeper integration which is not positive for the union. Instead, he favours a loose union of states with most decision powers kept by the national capitals.
currently – v současné době to try hard – snažit se ruling –vládnoucí to lack – scházet, chybět to build up – postavit poll – volby staunch – oddaný, neochvějný attempt – pokus to revive – oživit constitution – ústava to be put on ice – ”být dán k ledu” citizen – občan to reject – zamítnout openly – otevřeně to campaign against – vést kampaň proti, agitovat proti as such – jako takový toward – k, směrem k instead – místo toho to favour – dávat přednost čemu loose – volný decision powers – rozhodovací pravomoci.
Připravuje Markéta Frýbová