Czech press survey - February 7

He writes that if Zeman united the left, he would materialise the vision for which many left-minded politicians were striving throughout the 20th century.

However, this requires a charismatic leader which Fico undoubtedly is, and of course, objective political conditions, Rasek writes.

He says a similar goal can only be attained in a stable political situation which is far away in the Czech Republic.

Or, on the contrary, in an extremely critical situation for which the country may be headed: almost all are dissatisfied with the political situation, Rasek writes.

A bad economic mood dominates the Czech Republic and the government´s effort to improve it is best described by the "commitment" the government announced on Wednesday: two years without any tax changes that is to help stabilise the business environment, Julie Hrstkova writes in Hospodarske noviny.

She writes that a bad economic mood is difficult to change, and this is even more difficult at a moment where bad statistics and bad outlooks are added.

The messages sent out by all their updated versions agree on one thing. The economy is in recession and this will not change this year, Hrstkova writes.

To attain growth at a time when the situation throughout Europe is not good is difficult for the Czech export-orientated economy, Hrstkova writes.

She writes that the attempt to improve the bad mood through "tax inactivity" is good, however. It would be even better if it where not only an attempt and a short-time one.

Stability is often much more important than the effort "to catch up and outstrip (someone)," Hrstkova writes in an allusion to a notorious socialist slogan.

The business environment deserves a little bit of stability after the systematic creation of uncertainty where businesspeople did not know until the very end of last year what VAT they will be paying, Daniel Kaiser writes in Lidove noviny on Prime Minister Petr Necas´s promise of "tax inactivity."

Nevertheless, the gratitude to the government should not be exaggerated because the creation of conditions for a calm business environment should be matter of course, Kaiser writes.

That the government will at last cease inventing more and more novelties looks like a good move only against the background of its previous confused agility, Kaiser writes.

Yet, it is a relief to be watching the government parties starting to remember after two and a half years in power which voter strata they represent, Kaiser writes.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz