Czech leader expects Lisbon challenge

EURO-sceptic Czech President Václav Klaus has said he expects there will be another court challenge to the Lisbon Treaty in his country.

This would make it unlikely that the treaty would come into force this year even if Irish voters vote yes in the referendum.

However, Czech Minister for European Affairs Stefan Fule, who helped negotiate the Irish guarantees, said he believes his president will not delay in signing it into law: “The government has absolutely no doubt that, at the right time, there will be a right direction from the president.