Czech opposition CSSD preparing for elections at its congress

Party chairman Jiri Paroubek criticised the government headed by the Civic Democrats (ODS), particularly over its alleged inactivity at a time of economic crisis.

He called for his party fellow members to work hard and for regions to cooperate with one another and with the Chamber of Deputies.

Paroubek said the CSSD´s goal is the take-over of power next year.

The CSSD shadow government must prepare its programme for the first 100 days of rule, Paroubek said.

He said it will first have to redress the "most terrible mistakes" the current government has made.

Parbouek said the CSSD shadow government´s work will be difficult because it does not have at its disposal the thousands of clerks that are sitting at ministries.

He said the shadow government must have a programme because people will expect the CSSD to make changes after the elections.

The government is now headed by Mirek Topolanek, chairman of the senior ruling Civic Democrats (ODS). It has two junior partners, the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) and the Greens (SZ).

It was formed in January 2007 after the ODS minority government that emerged from the inconclusive elections in June 2006 failed to win the Chamber of Deputies´ confidence.

Paroubek said he is convinced that the CSSD will win the elections with about 35 to 40 percent.

The CSSD has slightly lost voter preferences over the past few months, but it is still leading the ODS by minimally 10 percent.

Paroubek warned against the right´s attacks on CSSD regional governors and said they must have full support of the party.

He said the attacks on the governors are planned because they have started personnel audits and checks of public means drawing.

The most intensive attacks have been waged against Central Bohemian governor David Rath because he has progressed the most with the audits, Paroubek said.

The CSSD has had governors in all 13 regions since last October when it crushingly beat the ODS that had 12 out of 13 governors. The 13th governor was a KDU-CSL member.

South Moravian governor Michal Hasek said the government does not cooperate with regions. For instance, it has not sent to regions a plan of struggle against the crisis.

He said the regions are, however, prepared to work against the crisis. All of them have their own crisis plans.

Paroubek also said the CSSD must win the June elections to the European Parliament (EP) in which it failed in 2004.

It only won two out of the total of 24 Czech MEPs´ seats.

Paroubek said the CSSD must persuade citizens about that the European Union and its bodies are the place where the future of the Czech Republic is also being decided about.

The EP elections must be a referendum about Topolanek´s government, Paroubek said.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz