MfD: PM prefers early elections to rule in agony

Prague, Oct 24 (CTK) - Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas (Civic Democrats, ODS) believes that to rule in agony would harm his party more than to have courage to declare early elections and very probably move to the opposition, he told Wednesday's issue of Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD) daily.

Necas said the ODS may gain a new generation of politicians in the opposition, find new energy and redefine programme priorities.

On Tuesday, the ODS leadership did not persuade its six rebellious MPs to support a tax package to which Necas linked a vote of confidence in his coalition government. The talks are to continue Wednesday.

As a result, Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek (TOP 09) announced that he would withdraw the 2013 budget bill, which counts with the tax package's implementation, and submit a new budget bill based on valid legislation in 30 days.

The Chamber of Deputies' plenary session is to start discussing possible modifications to the package in the bill's second reading Wednesday, too.

The stabilisation package was to increase the budget by 22 billion crowns. The VAT rise, which the ODS rebels still reject, was to bring 13.7 billion crowns.

Necas confirmed that he would be defending his post of ODS chairman at the party's election congress in two weeks.

"We must dare to openly admit that the ODS brand and its trustworthiness is harmed," Necas told the paper.

Necas admitted his own responsibility for the ODS fall but he noted that the party's popularity has been falling since 2006. He pointed out that a mere replacement of the ODS leader would not solve the party's crisis.

Confidence in big political parties has been shrinking minimally since 2009, he told MfD, referring to the ODS and the opposition Social Democrats (CSSD).

Necas has been prime minister and ODS chairman since 2010.

"We must seek trustworthy people," Necas said about his plan for boosting the ODS popularity.

He named Jaroslav Kubera, ODS mayor of Teplice, north Bohemia, who recently clearly defended his senator's seat, as an example of a trustworthy personality.

Necas told MfD that he made mistakes in choosing some people for key posts, hinting at the lineup of the ODS leadership.

In mid-2010, Necas himself proposed the names of the ODS deputy chairpersons - Miroslava Nemcova, Pavel Blazek, Pavel Drobil, Jiri Pospisil and Alexandr Vondra.

Blazek, Pospisil and Nemcova are considered weak by some observers. Drobil and Vondra are burdened by political scandals.

Necas said he believes he still has a lot to offer to the party.

He said the prevailing majority of scandals that were harming the ODS dated from the past. He added that paradoxically the number of scandals increased because more transparent rules were introduced and the police and courts had more opportunities to investigate suspicious cases.

He said left-wing voters were less critical to corruption cases that right-wing supporters who tended to be more educated and thus more demanding and critical of politicians.