Czech press survey - February 2

The most recent dispute between Prime Minister Petr Necas and Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg about the position on the EU budget discipline pact is not normal, but it is typically Czech, Anyz writes.

In a normal country, if a foreign minister fundamentally disagreed with the head of government, he would resign, while a strong prime minister could not keep in his cabinet a minister whom he called lazy in the media without losing respect, Anyz notes.

It may happen that in the dispute between two weak politicians, Necas and Schwarzenberg, the third part will laugh, in this case President Vaclav Klaus, in some other cases the leftist opposition, Anyz points out.

However, it is much more serious that the paralysis of Czech foreign policy affects a key issue of the Czech Republic´s position on EU integration.

Since its establishment in 1993, the Czech Republic has never solved such a deep conflict over its future foreign heading and its foreign-political decision-making has never been so much afflicted by domestic battles, Anyz writes.

"This is not normal at all but it is purely Czech," Anyz concludes in HN.

The dispute between Prime Minister Petr Necas (Civic Democrats, ODS, chairman) and Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg (TOP 09 head) seriously threatens the Czech government, Martin Komarek writes in the daily Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD).

Schwarzenberg sharply criticised Necas´s refusal to join the EU budget discipline pact.

In the dispute about the EU´s heading, it will be difficult for both politicians to give in Komarek says.

Schwarzenberg is so fully convinced about the European idea that he considers Necas´s stance barbarian, and on top of that in his eyes Necas is dancing to Klaus´s tune.

Necas, for his part, needs a very strong position in his ODS in which scepticism towards the EU prevails. Some Civic Democrats, maybe along with Necas, are of the view that the new treaty is another step towards a tax union, which would harm the Czech Republic, Komarek writes.

Moreover, the "lippy Schwarzenberg" went to far in his criticism this time, and Necas may feel offended.

The path to mutual reconciliation might be difficult, Komarek writes.

However, Schwarzenberg should not add fuel to the flames, while Necas should understand that any other than European future would be always a worse option for the Czech Republic, Komarek writes in conclusion.

The new Czech bill on the late former president Vaclav Havel's contribution to freedom and democracy, which the lower house passed on Wednesday, is seemingly useless but it is right to have it in the country, Jana Bendova writes elsewhere in Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD) today.

The arguments of its opponents saying such proclamations have nothing to do in the legislation are not cogent as "the law also expresses the values that we all jointly share," Bendova writes.

It is a symbolical gesture and symbols play an important role in the life of every community, she points out.

"The lex Havel" will not burden the already complicated Czech legal system at all, she adds.

"It tells a simple truth: Vaclav Havel has contributed to freedom and democracy. And the truth does not do harm," Bendova writes in MfD.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz