Czech press survey - October 31

The core of the internal struggle in the ODS are not slight changes to taxes but a clash for posts and an effort [by the six rebel MPs and their allies] to correct Necas´s policy of not-interfering in the work of the police and judiciary, Leschtina writes.

The fact alone that the ODS rebels have nodded to the Necas-proposed adjournment of the lower house´s vote on the tax package, linked to the vote of confidence in the cabinet, shows that they do not feel like directly clashing with the Necas wing, Leschtina writes.

As a result, another round of intrigues can be expected at the November 2-4 ODS congress, he says.

If the rebels successfully torpedoed the tax package together with the Necas cabinet now, the congress would have to decide on whether the ODS is for early elections or wants the formation of another ODS-led cabinet with a different prime minister. Advocates of the latter alternative would have to present their candidate for the post of PM, who would have to clash with Necas for the post of ODS chairman at the congress, Leschtina writes.

The rebels evidently shun a direct clash with Necas. None of them has challenged him as ODS head, Leschtina says.

After the ODS congress, the ODS´s image of a party in which behind-the-scenes bosses (Godfathers) have the upper hand will remain untouched, Leschtina predicts.

The use of intelligence methods in politics has been unfortunate, Martin Weiss writes in daily Lidove noviny today, reacting to the information leak charges faced by former intelligence service head Karel Randak.

Randak is suspected of leaking considerably distorted information about the pay of Prime Minister Petr Necas´s aide Jana Nagyova that harmed her and Necas in the eyes of people, Weiss recalls.

Randak undoubtedly does much useful work as the Anti-Corruption Fund´s protagonist. However, he will probably forever espouse intelligence methods that, in politics, are an evil as big as corruption, Weiss writes.

Randak´s opinion that his fresh prosecution is connected with his decision to run for president mirrors his unscrupulousness.

Of course, it is clear, someone wants to eliminate Randak as a bothersome rival candidate! Weiss sums up Randak´s suggestion with irony.

Through "cynical lenses," former intelligence service chief Karel Randak´s information leak charges look like the best he could wish in support of his campaign ahead of the presidential election, Jindrich Sidlo writes in Hospodarske noviny.

If assessed soberly, the accusation of Randak over a leak of information about the pay of PM Petr Necas´s aide Jana Nagyova amounts to scandalous nonsense, Sidlo writes.

Information of this type has to be obligatorily public, because everybody contributes to the pay of Nagyova as a public servant. This opinion is shared not only by a few journalists and Randak, but also by the Supreme Administration Court, Sidlo points out.

Randak need not fear, he will comfortably win the battle. The rest of Czechs, however, must feel concerned in a situation where the police evidently still include a number of officers whose basic philosophy rests in primitive repression and readiness to serve whenever necessary, Sidlo concludes.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz