Klaus says he has no advice for ODS

Prague, Nov 1 (CTK) - Czech President Vaclav Klaus said yesterday he will not give the Civic Democratic Party (ODS, senior government member) any advice ahead of its weekend congress, adding that it is not his congress, in reply to a question he was asked while launching a new book on his journeys.

The party will be electing its new leadership after the recent rout in regional and senate elections and in view of unresolved disputes in the deputy group.

"It is a congress of the ODS, it is not my congress, and I will not be giving any princely or any other advice yesterday, tomorrow, after tomorrow,...," Klaus said.

Some in the ODS say Klaus, founder of the party in 1991 and its chairman until 2002, should return to the head of the party, or at least as its honorary chairman, when his second and last five-year presidential term expires in March. Klaus has not reacted to the calls, however.

The Presidential Office dissociated itself this week from the statements by Klaus's adviser Jiri Payne who said on Czech Television it is unrealistic that Klaus would be again seeking ODS chairmanship when his presidency ends.

Klaus parted with the ODS in 2008 over discords with then ODS chairman Mirek Topolanek, but he still has supporters in the party.

Klaus has commented on developments in the ODS also in his capacity as president. In the current dispute over the government's package of tax changes aimed to stabilise public finances, Klaus's opinions and the arguments of the ODS lawmakers rebelling against Prime Minister Petr Necas, ODS chairman, are close to one another.

Klaus, however, says he has held the opinions for a long time and the ODS rebels deny any political cooperation with Klaus.