ODS backs President Klaus against treason accusation

Jihlava, South Moravia, Feb 28 (CTK) - The attempt by a group of senators to file a constitutional complaint about President Vaclav Klaus over his New Year amnesty is an expedient abuse of the Czech Republic's constitution, the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) said in its press release yesterday.

The attempt also serves to abuse the Constitutional Court and to vilify an ideological opponent, the ODS position, read by senator Jaroslav Kubera, said.

The amnesty has aroused an outcry by its extent and by halting the proceedings in some closely-watched corruption and fraud cases.

So far, the proposal has been signed by 28 out of the 81 senators. Most of them were elected for the opposition Social Democrats (CSSD).

Both critics and some proponents of the proposal are of the view that the upper house will not back the complaint on Monday, although the Senate organisational committee has recommended its approval.

If the plenum of the Senate does not back it, the complaint will not be sent to the Constitutional Court (US).

The senators want to sue Klaus mainly over his New Year amnesty but also over his delay of the signature under the Lisbon Treaty, the addendum to the European Social Charter and over other issues.

"The ODS executive council believes that most decent senators will not succumb to the populists' temptation and will not support the proposal," Kubera said.

The ODS executive council went on to thank Klaus, whose term expires on March 7, for a dignified representation of the Czech Republic during his two terms of office.

Klaus was the ODS founder and long-standing leader.

The ODS executive council also appreciated president-elect Milos Zeman and Senate chairman Milan Stech (Social Democrats) for not having backed the proposed complaint.

It said they displayed a "statesmanlike position as they did not support this kind of political struggle."