Czech press survey - March 20

He comments on the latest STEM poll results according to which the ODS would receive over 8 percent of the vote merely.

Kaiser recalls that since the 1990s the Czech political scene has been quite stable. The ODS has been dominant on the right and the Social Democrats (CSSD) on the left, while some small parties have been in between along with the Communists (KSCM) who have usually been the third strongest party but politically isolated.

If the ODS lost support considerably, it might legitimise the KSCM´s position.

In view of the latest polls´ results, the major task for PM and ODS chairman Petr Necas and his party´s leadership, which is "burnt-out" in terms of personalities, is to "struggle for the survival of the ODS label," Kaiser writes.

However, what a non-socialist voter shall do for whom only "an elderly aphorist" whose popularity has been artificially increased by Facebook is left? Kaiser asks in conclusion, hinting at Karel Schwarzenberg, leader of the government right-wing TOP 09 party, the ODS´s coalition partner.

The Czech opposition Social Democrats (CSSD) should replace the slogan "a new beginning" that decorated their weekend election congress by "let´s continue," Jiri Hanak writes in Pravo today.

He says the congress´s slogan rather indicates that the CSSD´s previous steps were wrong and the party must start anew, which would be unjust and stupid self-criticism despite several mistakes the party made in the past 20 years.

The slogan about "a new beginning" would rather suit the government rightist parties, the Civic Democrats (ODS) and TOP 09, Hanak adds.

He says the CSSD´s tasks are constant, continuing from the past, such as the defence of a welfare state and a decent life for people who make their living by work and for the disabled.

Besides, a modern Social Democracy must be connected not only with workers but also with leftist liberals, intellectuals and the youth. In this respect, the CSSD made a mistake by eliminating Jiri Dienstbier, attractive for the above mentioned groups, from its leadership at the congress, Hanak says.

Anyway, the current CSSD has no reason to start anew, it should continue. It has a lot to follow up since its work has been good, Hanak writes in conclusion.

Czech deputies like to highlight the importance of the Supreme Audit Office (NKU) but their concrete deeds do not confirm their words since they have left the post of its head vacant for over a year, Jan Sura writes in Mlada fronta Dnes (MfDé today.

On Tuesday, the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of parliament, finally elected a candidate for NKU president - Miloslav Kala, its current vice-president.

Sura indicates that Kala, who will head the office for another nine years if appointed by the president, is a good choice. It is hard to find anything for which he could be criticised, he adds.

However, the NKU would also regain respect if its leadership were not used for political bargaining and did not offer lucrative posts for former politicians, Sura points out.

The current NKU leadership comprises almost only former MPs and others are heading for it. This does not help improve the office´s reputation, Sura concludes.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz