Presidential Office dismisses statements by Klaus's adviser

Prague, Oct 31 (CTK) - The Czech Presidential Office has dissociated itself from President Vaclav Klaus's adviser Jiri Payne's statement that Klaus will probably not seek chairmanship of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) after his mandate expires in early March, Klaus's spokesman Radim Ochvat said.

Payne works in the political department of the Presidential Office and he does not come in direct contact with Klaus. Payne's opinions cannot therefore be considered Klaus's opinions, Ochvat said.

"I do not know whether he considers it, it is his decison-making. But I think that it is not realistic," Payne said on Czech Television (CT) on Tuesday when asked whether Klaus is considering returning to the head of the ODS.

Klaus, 71, founded the ODS in 1991 and was its chairman until 2002 when he decided to run for president. He was then the party's honorary chairman, but in 2008 he left the party over disagreement with its political line under Mirek Topolanek.

Payne said on CT there is quite a lot of people in the senior government party who would like to see Klaus returning to party politics.

Payne is a subordinate of Klaus's secretary Ladislav Jakl.

"He does not come in direct contact with the president just as the other external employees of the department. That is why the opinions and statements by Mr Payne must be considered his personal stand and assessment that do not express the president's opinions and stands at all," Ochvat said.

The current situation in the party suits the so-called Godfathers connected with the ODS and they do not desire for a new leader, Payne said.

"They would not like the arrival of a strong leader who would start to somehow salvage the party," Payne said.

"If the current situation continues, the Godfathers can profit from their posts for another few years and keep in power," Payne said.

Payne was one of the ODS founders. He was then an MP for many years. In 2009 he participated in the foundation of a new right-wing party, the Party of Free Citizens, of which he is deputy chairman.

Jakl is the party's candidate for the first direct presidential election to be held in early January.