Czech press survey - October 15

The Czech Communists (KSCM) are undoubtedly the winners of the regional polls and there is a serious risk of their return to the government, along with the Social Democrats (CSSD), after early or regular general elections in one or two years, Dalibor Balsinek writes in the daily Lidove noviny (LN) today.

Though the CSSD can be considered the election winner at first sight as it won in nine out of the 13 regions, it actually lost a leading position in four regions and 75 mandates, Balsinek recalls.

The Social Democrats compensate the loss by their willingness to cooperate with the Communists.

CSSD leader Bohuslav Sobotka even openly uttered what none of his predecessors would dare to say for 20 years - that he is planning a future government with the Communists. The voters allegedly wish so, Balsinek writes.

He points out that the current Czech Communists do not differ very much from those who were governing in the 1980s before the Velvet Revolution.

The Communists were rather neglected and no one was seriously dealing with their programme. Consequently, they avoided controversies and suddenly became the only party in parliament without scandals and they gained voter support, Balsinek adds.

It is unfortunately very probable that the KSCM, with Sobotka at the helm, will again govern in the country after the next general elections since the right wing parties, the government Civic Democrats (ODS) and TOP 09, are on the verge of self-destruction, Balsinek writes.

Voters have punished the ODS not only for its unscrupulous leaders entangled in dubious affairs, but also for its incomprehensible policy of reforms and tax rise, Balsinek writes in conclusion.

Czechs are not turning red but the major parties do not have distinctive personalities they could vote for, Robert Casensky writes in Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD) today.

Both strongest parties, the Civic Democrats (ODS) and Social Democrats (CSSD), have lost about the same number of votes in the regional elections, though the latter won in nine regions, while the Communists (KSCM) have gained a number of seats in regional assemblies, they have won in two regions and have not failed in any. Casensky recalls.

However, this does not simply mean that the Czech Republic is really turning red, but the democratic parties have considerably lost support since they suffer from a personnel crisis, Casensky writes.

Both the ODS and the CSSD lack strong personalities who would be able to attract a number of supporters, he adds.

If the traditional big parties do not offer such personalities to voters, they will probably seek alternatives elsewhere more and more and support for the KSCM will further rise.

"In my opinion, these elections have sent one main message from voters to the democratic parties saying: No, we Czechs are not red all of a sudden, we only have a strong feeling that there is no one we can vote for," Casensky concludes.

Voters expect the "orange-red" or "red-orange" coalitions of the Social Democrats (CSSD) with the Communists (KSCM) or vice versa to bring order to the regions´ administration and help improve the situation of locals, but in vain, Julie Hrstkova writes in Hospodarske noviny (HN) today.

Miracles do to happen, she says, citing the example of the two regions in which the KSCM won - the Karlovy Vary and Usti regions. Both regions have the lowest share of highly educated people and a very high unemployment, she adds.

The EU gave up its effort to contribute to the regions´ reconstruction last year, in reaction to corruption scandals at the Regional Operational Programme (ROP) office distributing EU subsidies.

The idea of new leaders changing the regions for the better is nonsense. There is no money to fund generous regional programmes. The state does not have finances and the EU will not release any, Hrstkova writes in HN.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz