Czech CSSD candidate is not against Communists in government

Dienstbier said the attitude was anti-constitutional.

"If the prime minister-designate submitted a proposal to me that would mean forming a government including the KSCM, I simply would not accept it," Fischer told the paper Mlada fronta Dnes today.

Dienstbier said the article 68 of the Czech Constitution spoke clearly.

It sets down that a prime minister "is appointed by the president who names at the prime minister's proposal the other government members, entrusting them with managing the ministries and other offices," Dienstbier said.

In a democratic country, people decide on their government in free elections, Dienstbier said.

"The president is no tsar and the Czech Republic is no autocracy in which a president could decide on who is likeable for him and who not when a government is formed," Dienstbier said.

"The Czech constitution is valid for everybody and presidential candidates should read it before making such populist statements," he added.

Fischer said he considered the Communists an extremist party.

Fischer himself was a member of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSC) in 1980-1989.

Communists received 20 percent of votes in recent regional elections.

With his current popularity of about 30 percent, Fischer is the clear favourite of the direct presidential election that will be held on January 11-12.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz