Prague Journal

Sunday, May 29, 2005.

A dear Czech friend and Denver math colleague, who is visiting Prague this week, has offered to take a suitcase back to Denver for us, so we met him at the airport at 10:30 with a heavy suitcase in tow. The airlines have tightened up baggage restrictions, not only limiting the number of carry-ons, but also limiting their weight to 12 kilos (8 if traveling within the EU), which means we cannot load our carry-ons with books as we had in the past. The weight limit for a checked bag to the US is 70 pounds or 32 kilos. Ours was 31.76 kilos. So it is with great relief that winter clothes and several books are on their way to Denver. We may still have too much volume and/or weight, but now it seems more reasonable to expect that we will be able to fit within the airline limits.
The big headlines today are about France’s rejection of the EU constitution, which was not unexpected. This vote is viewed as an attempt by the French voters to punish the leaders of France and of Europe after a bitter campaign that split the country in two. Turnout for the vote was estimated at more than 70%, which exceeded the turnout for other recent elections in France. The final figure was expected to surpass turnout in the referendum on the Maastricht Treaty 13 years ago that paved the way to the euro. The new constitution can only take effect if it is ratified by all 25 member states. Nine countries had ratified it before the French went to the polls, and France was the first in the EU to decide via a binding referendum. The no vote makes France, a founding member of the European Union and one of its most influential, the first country to reject the charter. It is a personal defeat for Chirac, who campaigned vigorously in favor of the constitution. It also sets back European integration by blocking a treaty that aims to streamline decision-making in an expanded union.
The new constitution has been criticized because it is so long and detailed: it has 448 articles. But it is mostly an attempt to reconcile old treaties and clean up confusing language. Advocates of the charter said it would make the EU more democratic by giving the European Parliament more power and by setting up the positions of president and foreign minister for the bloc. As a result, they said, Europe would become a more credible player in world affairs. Opponents countered that the treaty would sap the sovereignty of member states and open the door to unrestrained capitalism, putting at risk France’s generous welfare system. The biggest concerns are probably not so related to the actual constitution, but about outsourcing and the arrival of lower-paid workers from new EU member countries. (There was much public discussion of a mythical Polish plumber who would, in the event the constitution passed, allegedly be able and willing to work in France for far less than a Frenchman would find acceptable.) The rejection of the constitution undermined French President Jacques Chirac and will result in a reshuffling of the French government in the next few days. The Netherlands will vote on Wednesday, and analysts are predicting that the French result is likely to increase the chances of a firm rejection there. Polls have already registered 60% of the public in opposition to the constitution in the Netherlands.
Back in Prague, we had intended to go to a chamber music concert this evening, but opted to spend a quiet evening at home and avoid getting dressed up and trotting downtown in the heat (it is in the mid-80s today). We are in the final week of the Prague Spring Music Festival, and we have yet to go to any of the concerts this year. The festival originated in 1946 in the optimistic post-war atmosphere, as a celebration of classical music. While in the first year, all the orchestral concerts were played by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra which was celebrating its 50th birthday, later many other ensembles and musicians, including many international stars, performed at the festival. The Prague Spring has gradually become one of the most important showcases for outstanding performing artists, orchestras and chamber ensembles in Europe. Sadly for those of us here, tickets have become very expensive, even by US standards. The final concert is on June 4th, performed by the Bavarian Radio Orchestra, but we have weekend plans so we may have foregone our only chance at a Prague Spring concert this year.

posted by JWinn @ 7:56 PM