PM demands union head's apology, not to meet him otherwise

Prague, Sept 21 (CTK) - Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas (Civic Democrats, ODS) will not have any talks with the CMKOS umbrella trade union leader Jaroslav Zavadil unless Zavadil apologises for his statement that the current government is "the absolutely worst" the country has had since 1950, Necas announced Friday.

Zavadil said his statement was an exaggeration and admitted that it was unwise.

On Monday, representatives of the government, trade unions and employers are to discuss the next year's state budget within their tripartite meeting.

The CMKOS is the strongest association of unions in the country.

"It is outrageous to compare us with the government of murderers that took the life of doctor Milada Horakova. I refuse to have any meetings with Mr Zavadil, including the tripartite talks, unless he withdraws his statement," Necas said in a press release.

Horakova, a democratic politician, was executed within a show trial in 1950, over fabricated charges of treason and espionage.

Necas said Zavadil's statement clearly points to the ideological roots of the current leadership of Czech unions.

He added that the statement showed Zavadil's proximity to the Czechoslovak communist totalitarian governments that killed hundreds of people and persecuted hundreds of thousands.

Zavadil made the statement Friday before journalists when he assessed the budget proposed by Necas's government.

Following Necas's angry reaction, he told Czech Television (CT) that he "certainly does not want to compare it (Necas's government) either with the governments in the 1950s or with the regime of the 1950s."

"But I insist on that this government is not goog for the country. That is for sure," Zavadil said.

Zavadil said he can see no problem in discussing the problem with Necas.

The government and unions were to return to the negotiating table after six months because of the 2013 budget bill. The last tripartite talks were held in March. The unions then left in protest against the government's steps.

Zavadil wanted to tell Necas and Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek (TOP 09) on Monday that the unions cannot accept the proposed version of next year's budget.

Zavadil said the financial risks of the proposed budget amount to 45 to 60 billion crowns, including the basic parameters as well as the VAT revenue and the pension reform launch.

The government reckons with a deficit of 100 billion crowns, or 3 percent of GDP, provided that a tax package is passed. The budget expenditures are to reach 1,185 billion and revenue 1,085 billion crowns.

Relations between the unions and the government have been tense for a long time. Union leaders walked out of the negotiating room several times in the past. They criticised the cabinet for discussing issues with them that it had already approved. They also had several demands, like the postponement of the pension reform, which the government rejected.

In June, the unions definitively decided to markedly limit their participation in the activities of the tripartite.

Josef Stredula, leader of the KOVO metallurgy workers' union that is the strongest member of the CMKOS, said he believes the situation will calm down and the tripartite will meet on Monday.

Stredula said Zavadil made a "communication mistake."