Czech press survey - September 19

These people pretend support for Necas, but they are silently taking over power in the ODS and Necas has already completely stopped pretending struggle with corruption, Leschtina writes.

His fall started with the dismissal of justice minister Jiri Pospisil (ODS) who in spite of all the mistakes he may have, he supported investigation into corruption that could have badly impact not only the ODS, Leschtina writes.

He writes that having dismissed Pospisil, Necas only showed his softness in relation to the opponents of judiciary reforms.

Actually, why should Necas fall and be replaced with someone more yielding if he himself has started bribing with posts and his loyalty towards President Vaclav Klaus is more than big? Leschtina asks.

President Vaclav Klaus has again activistically interfered in politics, he attacks Prime Minister Petr Necas (ODS) and he may be trying to return to the ODS, Martin Komarek writes in Mlada fronta Dnes.

Necas had to agree with humiliating negotiations about a package of changes to taxes aimed to improve public finances with blackmailers around ODS MP Petr Tluchor on Tuesday, Komarek writes.

He says this would be nothing strange if the rebels were really concerned about the poor and wanted to spare them paying higher VAT rates.

But this is not what they aim at. Besides, Klaus plays a role in the game, which is in fact confirmed by his secretary Ladislav Jakl. It has long been true that what Jakl denies is true, Komarek writes.

He also speculates about that Klaus´s steps against Necas may have geopolitical motives.

It is ruled out that Necas would give the huge and extremely lucrative order for the completion of the nuclear power plant in Temelin to the Russians, for whom Klaus has an unusual liking, Komarek writes.

This is even less imaginable if (defence minister) Alexandr Vondra sits on Necas´s government. True, he is weakened, but still a powerful supporter of alliance with the United States, Komarek writes.

The role of the prime minister cannot be much distinctive in a situation such as the current scandal with bootleg alcohol that has already claimed 23 lives, but silence looks like helplessness, Martin Zverina writes in Lidove noviny.

However, being the head of the executive, Necas could tell people a couple of words at the time of prohibition [that has been introduced in reaction to the developments], Zverina writes.

Besides, those who taint alcohol cannot be overlooked precisely in his election constituency northern Moravia, Zverina writes.

He says Necas could at least indicate in which direction his party, Civic Democrats (ODS), wants to go in dealing with alcohol.

No theatrical gestures, but a couple of words about what the government wants to do would be good to hear, Zverina writes.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz