Prague, Dec 7 (CTK) – The Czech senior government Social Democrats (CSSD) will try to address voters with the proposal for a progressive tax and a series of other measures in favour of most citizens, Interior Minister and CSSD first deputy chairman Milan Chovanec told reporters yesterday.
The party should more focus on its traditional groups of voters and attract young people and inhabitants of large towns in the future, he added.
The CSSD’s broader leadership will discuss programme points in Prague on Saturday.
The CSSD must show that it is not a party supporting an unlimited distribution of welfare benefits, but a party of certainties for people in need, Chovanec said.
“We want to present a series of measures to show that we are a party for people, for most citizens,” he added.
The CSSD is now drafting a tax reform, its idea of a progressive tax, Chovanec said.
It is completely opposed to the effort of Finance Minister Andrej Babis (ANO) to lower or even abolish the tax on dividends, he added.
The CSSD wants to seek solutions together with businesspeople as well.
The Social Democrats want to present their vision of the Czech Republic in five to ten years and seek support of most inhabitants for this dream, Chovanec pointed out.
“I see a country that is looking after its citizens, securing their access to education, healthcare and public services,” he said.
If the CSSD does not persuade voters about this dream, it will end up in opposition, he added.
Chovanec said he was glad that the party would like to return to its roots, that is to focus on standard voter groups – employees, families with children and the elderly.
After the CSSD’s position is stabilised, it should start addressing young people and inhabitants od cities, he said.
The CSSD regional conferences are now selecting the candidates they will support at the March national congress to elect a new leadership.
The CSSD’s failure in the October regional and Senate elections stirred up an internal discussion about the position of PM and CSSD Bohuslav Sobotka. However, he wants to be defending his post at the March congress.
