Czech press survey - March 16

The whole Czech society, including opponents of the Social Democrats (CSSD), expect the CSSD to win the elections next year and form a new government. Zeman, on his part, was elected president in the January direct elections by the voters who call for a stronger position of the Czech president in belief that he should be "a navigator of ships on the political sea," Alexandr Mitrofanov writes in daily Pravo.

A crushing majority of Zeman´s supporters are also supporters of the CSSD [which Zeman fell out in the mid-2000s], Mitrofanov says.

The interest of the CSSD and the president thus could not but coincide at the party congress, he says, referring to Zeman´s speech accommodating to the CSSD.

The CSSD knows that the support Zeman expressed for it will benefit it in the mid-2014 elections. Zeman, on his part, knows that he can push through his long-term aims only in alliance with the future senior ruling party, Mitrofanov says.

That is why Zeman offered alliance to the CSSD. He used the word "friendship," which, however, could impress only those among the delegates who are prone to believe that friendship does exist in politics. Nevertheless, a pragmatic step´s effect is always stronger if accompanied by stirred emotions, Mitrofanov writes.

Now that the Social Democrats (CSSD) have both their chairman and first deputy chairman with unusually strong mandates and have received "blessing" from President Milos Zeman, the attention has turned to the CSSD´s programme as the probable future ruler, Martin Zverina writes in Lidove noviny.

CSSD leaders have drawn a lesson from the past and they make it ostentatiously clear that they would not promise what is unfeasible, Zverina writes.

They say the CSSD would prefer ruling in a coalition. Forming a one-party government is only a less preferred alternative, though it was recommended to the CSSD by Zeman, Zverina writes.

The CSSD also wants to reconstruct the state and reform the present right-wing government´s reforms, or correct them, as CSSD chairman Bohuslav Sobotka put it.

The CSSD´s impressive picture of a shining future, however, omits one important factor, which is business structures using political parties to sponge on the state. As if it were not the CSSD´s priority to eliminate them. If so, the agony of the Czech political establishment would continue even under the CSSD´s rule after the next elections, Zverina writes.

It is difficult to pretend a new beginning with infamous old matadors as allies, he points out.

Elsewhere in Lidove noviny, Martin Zverina states that Zeman came to the Social Democrat (CSSD) congress to renew his influence on the party.

Zeman was sincere when he wished the CSSD election victory. Only if it wins, the CSSD will be able to form a government, possibly in cooperation with the [small] Citizens´ Rights Party (SPOZ) of which Zeman is the honorary head, Zverina writes.

Whatever the SPOZ´s election result, it will be useless without the CSSD´s triumphal victory. That is why Zeman does not want any rift or turbulences in the CSSD now, Zverina writes.

On the other hand, Zeman, in his speech, named his favourites in the party, he says.

Zeman´s mission to the CSSD delegates was: "Obey me, I was successful, I´m competent and I´ll advise you with which people [in the party leadership] you will be as successful as I," Zverina writes.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz