Fischer would not let KSČM join gov't if elected president

Prague, Oct 23 (CTK) - Jan Fischer would definitely not let the Communists (KSCM) share governing power if he were elected Czech president next year, and he would promote even a tougher pension reform than that planned by the present right-wing government, he says in daily Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD) out Tuesday.

Fischer, an independent candidate for presidency, headed the Czech caretaker cabinet in 2009-2010. He is a favourite in the first direct presidential election, due on January 11-12, along with another former prime minister, Milos Zeman.

"If the prime minister-designate submitted a proposal to me that would mean forming a government including the KSCM, I simply would not accept it," Fischer told MfD.

Also if the formation of a minority cabinet were proposed to him, he would enquire into whether the cabinet counts with a latent support from the Communists, for which they could be offered some posts of heads or deputy deputy heads of offices, Fischer said.

He said he considers the junior opposition Communists an extremist party.

"They have not come to terms with our country's basic foreign political orientation. They keep a very negative stand on the EU, NATO, and on the operation of our missions [abroad]," Fischer said.

Fischer, 61, now vice-president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), has financed his presidential campaign from the gifts of sponsors, the largest of whom is the steel and health magnate Tomas Chrenek.

Fischer was a member of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSC) in 1980-1989.