Vladimír Klokočka
Encyclopedia
Vladimír Klokočka was a Czech
lawyer
, legal expert and politician
. Klokocka was a signatory to the Charter 77
manifesto
, which criticized the Czechoslovakia
n Communist government for not implementing basic human rights
provisions.
Born in Prague
in 1929, Klokocka graduated from the Faculty of Law at Charles University in Prague
. He worked as a lecturer following his graduation from Charles University.
In the spring of 1968, Klokocka became a deputy in the Czech National Council
, the Czech lower house
within Czechoslovakia
during the height of the Prague Spring
reform period. He also became the dean
of the Faculty of Law in Brno
, where he drafted new election laws for Czechoslovakia. However, in August 1968 Soviet and other Warsaw Pact
forces invaded Czechoslovakia
and crushed the liberalization
movement. Klokocka was removed for public office and his academic positions at the university.
Klokocka took a job with an insurance company following his removal. However, he was fired from the company once he joined with other Czechoslovakian professionals and dissidents to sign the Charter 77
manifesto. Under threat of political persecuation, Klokocka fled the country and settled in exile
in Munich
, West Germany
. He was able to obtain a position on the faculty of the University of Munich.
He returned from exile to Czechoslovakia in 1990, following the collapse of the Communist Czechoslovakian government in November 1989 during the Velvet Revolution
. Following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia
, Klokočka worked for the Constitutional Court for ten years, from 1993 until 2003. The focus of much of his work dealt with resolving disputes between Czech political parties and election legislation
. Klokočka wrote a number of books and articles
after his departure from the Constitutional Court in 1993. He received an honorary doctorate from Masaryk University
.
Vladimír Klokočka died on October 19, 2009, at the age of 80.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, legal expert and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. Klokocka was a signatory to the Charter 77
Charter 77
Charter 77 was an informal civic initiative in communist Czechoslovakia from 1976 to 1992, named after the document Charter 77 from January 1977. Founding members and architects were Václav Havel, Jan Patočka, Zdeněk Mlynář, Jiří Hájek, and Pavel Kohout. Spreading the text of the document was...
manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
, which criticized the Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
n Communist government for not implementing basic human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
provisions.
Born in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
in 1929, Klokocka graduated from the Faculty of Law at Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1348, it was the first university in Central Europe and is also considered the earliest German university...
. He worked as a lecturer following his graduation from Charles University.
In the spring of 1968, Klokocka became a deputy in the Czech National Council
Czech National Council
The Czech National Council was the legislative body of the Czech Republic from 1968 to 1992. It was created in 1968 to reflect the fact that Czechoslovakia became a federation. It was legally transformed into the Chamber of deputies according to the Constitution The Czech National Council was the...
, the Czech lower house
Lower house
A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide the lower house has come to wield more power...
within Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
during the height of the Prague Spring
Prague Spring
The Prague Spring was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia during the era of its domination by the Soviet Union after World War II...
reform period. He also became the dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the Faculty of Law in Brno
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
, where he drafted new election laws for Czechoslovakia. However, in August 1968 Soviet and other Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
forces invaded Czechoslovakia
Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia
On the night of 20–21 August 1968, the Soviet Union and her main satellite states in the Warsaw Pact – Bulgaria, the German Democratic Republic , Hungary and Poland – invaded the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic in order to halt Alexander Dubček's Prague Spring political liberalization...
and crushed the liberalization
Liberalization
In general, liberalization refers to a relaxation of previous government restrictions, usually in areas of social or economic policy. In some contexts this process or concept is often, but not always, referred to as deregulation...
movement. Klokocka was removed for public office and his academic positions at the university.
Klokocka took a job with an insurance company following his removal. However, he was fired from the company once he joined with other Czechoslovakian professionals and dissidents to sign the Charter 77
Charter 77
Charter 77 was an informal civic initiative in communist Czechoslovakia from 1976 to 1992, named after the document Charter 77 from January 1977. Founding members and architects were Václav Havel, Jan Patočka, Zdeněk Mlynář, Jiří Hájek, and Pavel Kohout. Spreading the text of the document was...
manifesto. Under threat of political persecuation, Klokocka fled the country and settled in exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. He was able to obtain a position on the faculty of the University of Munich.
He returned from exile to Czechoslovakia in 1990, following the collapse of the Communist Czechoslovakian government in November 1989 during the Velvet Revolution
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
. Following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia
Dissolution of Czechoslovakia
The dissolution of Czechoslovakia, which took effect on 1 January 1993, was an event that saw the self-determined separation of the federal state of Czechoslovakia. The Czech Republic and Slovakia, entities which had arisen in 1969 within the framework of Czechoslovak federalisation, became...
, Klokočka worked for the Constitutional Court for ten years, from 1993 until 2003. The focus of much of his work dealt with resolving disputes between Czech political parties and election legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
. Klokočka wrote a number of books and articles
Article (publishing)
An article is a written work published in a print or electronic medium. It may be for the purpose of propagating the news, research results, academic analysis or debate.-News articles:...
after his departure from the Constitutional Court in 1993. He received an honorary doctorate from Masaryk University
Masaryk University
Masaryk University is the second largest university in the Czech Republic, a member of the Compostela Group and the Utrecht Network. Founded in 1919 in Brno as the third Czech university , it now consists of nine faculties and 42,182 students...
.
Vladimír Klokočka died on October 19, 2009, at the age of 80.