Gov't proves weaker this year than expected, Klaus says

Prague, Dec 9 (CTK) - The Czech government has been less effective and weaker this year compared with its position one year ago, President Vaclav Klaus said at a meeting with managers staged by the Euronews publishers Friday.

Klaus said his analysis heralds the themes of his New Year's speech.

Klaus said this was due to the disputes and scandals rocking the government coalition parties.

The centre-right government that emerged from the May 2010 general election comprises the senior Civic Democrats (ODS) of Prime Minister Petr Necas, TOP 09 and Public Affairs (VV).

"The government has been weakened by coalition disputes, both proved and unproved scandals. It has been weakened by the departures of several ministers. It has also weakened by internal disputes within particular parties. But it has been weakened the most by real disputes between the coalition parties over the fundamental parameters of the government's reform steps. This means that the disputes also had a matter-of-fact basis," Klaus said.

Klaus appointed six new ministers within a year and he will probably accept the resignation of Culture Minister Jiri Besser (Mayors and Independents, STAN) after his return from a brief visit to Wroclaw, Poland, on Tuesday.

STAN is to choose Besser's successor on Monday.

Tomas Chalupa (ODS) replaced Pavel Drobil (ODS) as environment minister in January.

In April Klaus appointed Jan Kubice interior minister and Radek Smerda transport minister, replacing VV ministers Radek John and Vit Barta.

In July Klaus appointed Karolina Peake as deputy prime minister (VV) replacing John.

In October Necas dismissed agriculture minister Ivan Fuksa (ODS) who was replaced by Petr Bendl (ODS) and in November trade and industry minister Martin Kocourek (ODS) was replaced by Martin Kuba (ODS).

Necas's government had the deepest crisis in the spring when then VV deputy chairman Jaroslav Skarka said VV informal leader Barta was bribing him into loyalty.

The same accusation was levelled against Barta by VV deputy Kristyna Koci a few days later.

In the following months the VV was threatening to leave the government coalition. The dispute was ironed out with the signature of an addendum to the coalition agreement.

In August TOP 09 ministers refused to attend government meetings in protest against the employment of Ladislav Batora, head of the conservative D.O.S.T. movement who in the past ran for the nationalist National Party, at the Education Ministry.

The government coalition parties also experienced a number of matter-of-fact disputes over the planned tax reform, gambling taxation and the appointment of police president (Petr Lessy).

Klaus said the past year also saw a populist attack on politics as such through the social networks, which the government coalition parties were unable to avert.

"Social Democracy (CSSD) was not an opposition to the government. It rather took the position of an opponent of the whole socio-economic system of the country," Klaus said.

"We do not agree with the president's assessment," the smallest government party VV said in reaction to Klaus's words.

VV deputy group head Barta said in the document that in his opinion, the current government is "certainly better" than the coalition cabinet headed by then ODS chairman Mirek Topolanek, comprising the ODS, the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) and the Greens.

The current government has done "a lot of good work," Barta said.

"The fact that quite many ministers have left the government, is a result of its much better self-reflection," Barta noted.

He, however, added that the principle of "the presumption of guilt" in the case of politicians was not justly accepted by all coalition partners.

"Unfortunately, some government members were not able to face their problems like a man," said Barta, who is considered the VV's informal leader.

Turning to the developments in the euro zone and the crisis, Klaus said he was too optimistic.

"I warned against the long-term consequences of proceeding along the established path of the European integration and social system, but I did not sound the alarm in the short term. I must say now that I made a mistake and that I was too optimistic," Klaus said.