ČSSD wants CZK 15-m spending cap on presidential election campaign

Prague, Feb 22 (CTK) - The Czech opposition Social Democrats (CSSD) will propose a 15 million crown cap for presidential candidates, party chairman Bohuslav Sobotka said yesterday, adding campaign-related expenditures should be paid from one account for better control.

President Vaclav Klaus recently signed into law a bill on direct presidential elections. The government approved yesterday an implementing bill on the election to go to parliament. The bill does not set any election campaign caps.

Klaus's second and last possible term expires in early 2013. His successor will be the first president chosen in a direct election.

Sobotka said yesterday the candidates should release the payments made from the accounts within 60 day of the end of the campaign.

"We also propose that legal entities be banned from funding such a campaign," Sobotka said.

He said it would be very useful if all gifts from individuals over 50,000 crowns were disclosed.

Prime Minister Petr Necas said in the past caps must be set if the election is to be "effective and transparent."

The Interior Ministry estimates that the state will pay 655 million crowns for the organisation of the direct presidential election.

($1=18.845 crowns)