Czech PM countersigns amnesty law, praises Klaus´s speech

Necas said the countersigning of the amnesty is the prime minister´s constitutional duty as well as right.

Klaus, whose second and last five-year term expires in March, assessed in his last New Year´s speech the past ten years he headed the state.

He spoke about the economic situation, criticised the European Union over many regulations and called for a return to the traditional values and national togetherness.

Klaus said some "self-appointed saviours" want to exploit the economic stagnation for their own goals.

"It is a political and economic analysis based on firm values and realistic elements of optimism," Necas said.

He said he respects Klaus´s defence of parliamentary democracy and his words criticising populists who are trying to score political points with slick and superficial slogans.

"I esteem his respect for work and traditional values," Necas said.

He said the speech, though it was critical, contained elements betraying a positive mood.

Necas accepted Klaus´s statement that the government is unstable.

"I believe that the government will still show that it can take positive steps, I am convinced that we were taking them in the past too, even though thy were not popular. At the same it was necessary to take them because we can only develop in the right direction if we have healthy public finances. In its further period, the government wants to concentrate on support to economic growth," Necas said.

He government emerged from the mid-2010 general election. The next election is scheduled for mid-2014.

Author: ČTK
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