Fischer promises to renew trust in politics

Prague, Sept 14 (CTK) - The renewal of public trust in politics is the priority of Czech presidential candidate Jan Fischer, he said Friday, adding that a strong economy, the rule of law, decency, the defence of national interests and care for human rights were among his priorities, too.

Fischer unveiled his programme in a one-hour speech before 200 of his followers.

Fischer, 61, former caretaker prime minister (2009-2010), is a favourite of the first direct presidential election to be held early next year when incumbent President Vaclav Klaus's term expires.

Until now the presidents have been elected by the two houses of parliament.

Fischer said he wanted to seek the implementation of politicians' property returns, a limitation of lawmakers' immunity and a reduction of some presidential powers.

On the other hand, the president should be able to dissolve the Chamber of Deputies on the proposal of the prime minister, while the parliament should be obliged to debate a bill proposed by at least 50,000 people.

Fischer said due to the problems of the euro zone, the Czech Republic should only enter it if it were advantageous for it.

He told CTK that he did not share European Commission President Jose Barroso's vision of the EU heading for a federation.

Fischer said the EU should better follow the path of flexible integration on which countries would be deciding on how much they would participate in cooperation.

Fischer said the presidential contest was not a duel between the right and the left, but the last chance to end the political arrangement established in the 1990s and to prevent the devastation of legal consciousness.

Fischer said he wanted to establish a judges' council. He said the police president and supreme state attorney should be appointed with the Senate's consent.

The lawmakers' immunity should only relate to speeches in parliament and not firms, but only individuals should sponsor parties, he added.

Fischer went on to promise to reduce the Presidential Office staff by 25 percent and to lower the president's salary by 20 percent.

Fischer said as president he would never appoint any representative of an extremist party or a party questioning the Czech Republic's allied commitments to the post of prime minister.

He said he would like to meet the prime minister once a week.

According to the latest poll, Fischer is acceptable for 74 percent of people and 30 percent of people would vote for him in the first election round.

This week a potentially strong rival of Fischer, economist Jan Svejnar, announced he would not be running in the presidential election.

Fischer's biggest rival now is former Social Democrat (CSSD) prime minister Milos Zeman, running for the Party of Citizens' Rights (SPOZ) of which he is honorary chairman.

Fischer has already collected 50,000 signatures required for the presidential candidature.

Fischer finances his campaign from sponsorship gifts he has published on his transparent account. Steel and health facilities mogul Tomas Chrenek has been the biggest donor.