CZECH REPUBLIC: Members of the rightist group in the Christian Democrats rebel over deal with left to produce a parliamentary majority

Record ID: 777602

  • Title: CZECH REPUBLIC: Members of the rightist group in the Christian Democrats rebel over deal with left to produce a parliamentary majority
  • Date: 28th August 2006
  • Summary: (CEEF) PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (AUGUST 25, 2006)(REUTERS) WIDE: SOCIAL DEMOCRATS PARTY HEADQUARTERS CLOSE UP: SOCIAL DEMOCRATS FLAG
  • Embargoed: 12th September 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Czech Republic
  • Country: Czech Republic
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3SN1IRYLKDJYENCS8RYBYOFF7
  • Story Text: Leaders of the Czech Christian Democrats faced a rank-and-file rebellion on Friday (August 25) over their plans to enter a leftist coalition that could produce a parliamentary majority.
    The Czech Republic has been locked in a political stalemate since a general election in June in which neither leftist nor rightist parties won a majority in parliament.
    The prolonged wrangling has worried investors because the country will need to take action on the 2007 budget soon if it is to meet its euro entry target of 2010.
    Chances of a breakthrough rose on Thursday (August 24) when leaders of a small rightist party, the Christian Democrats, said they were ready to turn coat and join a coalition with the Social Democrats, the number two force in parliament.
    Both parties said they were confident they could agree on a government programme and the Communists signalled they would back them to produce a majority of 113 deputies in the 200-seat lower house of parliament.
    The prospect of relying on the Communists, heirs of the totalitarian party which ruled Czechoslovakia after World War Two, proved too much for many Christian Democrats. Many members threatened to quit the party or resign their posts.
    If the short-lived centre-left alliance breaks down, the initiative will go back to conservative leader Mirek Topolanek.
    Topolanek, nominated as prime minister by President Vaclav Klaus, wants to gain all-party support for an interim cabinet that would lead the country to an early election next year. On Thursday, he called party leaders together for emergency discussions.
    "We would, of course, welcome any support from the side of other political parties. Anyway, when it comes to early elections - and this is a reasonable step - if the Communists support it, there is no reason why we shouldn't agree with their support," he told journalists afterwards.
    The Social Democrats are happy with the talks, hoping, they may be able to set up new government coalition with Christian Democrats, supported by communists.
    "I have to say that our dealings with the Communists are the same as the dealings of the Civic Democrats," said finance minister Bohuslav Sobotka.
    "It's possible direct personal dealings may start on Monday," he added.
    The last member of the former three party coalition (the Civic and Christian Democrats and the Green Party), the leader of Green Party Martin Bursik reacted early on Friday.
    "I told him (Topolanek) I feel like all around are going crazy and that the Greens are the only ones who are not taking part in the auction for Communist votes. We have been saying for a long time now, that the reasonable solution, also for the public, should be to try for early elections," he said.
    The rebellion, if successful, would be an embarrassment for Social Democrat leader and former prime minister Jiri Paroubek, bidding to stay in power despite losing the June election to the conservative Civic Democrats.
    Paroubek grudgingly allowed the conservatives to try to form a government earlier this month, after months of blocking their efforts, only to stab them in the back with a surprise announcement he was launching his own bid for power.
    Another way out of the prolonged stalemate would be an agreement among parties to call a snap election, analysts said.
    With newspapers filled with headlines on the political wranglings, the residents of Prague appear disturbed by the latest developments.
    "It is disgusting. It is the right time to emigrate," said one young business man. "If this continues, like the worker's law, it will kill me as an entrepreneur."
    "Politicians will always make a deal. As I am saying, politics is just a dirty thing," said a Prague resident.
    "This doesn't make any sense. (Czech President Vaclav) Klaus should name a government of civil servants, which should prepare for early elections. Otherwise it really makes no sense," said another.
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