Topolanek wants FinMin Kalousek to continue in Czech interim govt

Opposition Social Democrat (CSSD) leader Jiri Paroubek said earlier today that he nominated Deputy Finance Minister Eduard Janota for the post.

But Topolanek said Janota rejected the offer.

Topolanek said only three persons can occupy the post of finance minister due to the economic crisis: Kalousek and his deputies - Janota or Tomas Uvira.

The ODS originally proposed Uvira for finance minister, but Fischer rejected the nomination.

If Kalousek was to be finance minister, he would have to leave the Christian Democratic Party (KDU-CSL) because the interim cabinet is to be non-partisan.

Kalousek indicated previously that he would leave the KDU-CSL, also as a result of a major dispute with its current leadership.

However, Paroubek said previously that none of the ministers from Topolanek's team should be in the caretaker cabinet headed by Fischer.

Fischer, whose cabinet is to be appointed on May 8, announced the cabinet lineup he preferred on Thursday. However, the parties that nominated candidates for individual ministers strongly disapproved of three changes that Fischer made in the lineup.

On Sunday, the ODS, the CSSD and the Greens reached an agreement with Fischer based on which they are to propose new candidates for some ministers.

Paroubek today rejected the information that he proposed Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Martin Tlapa for the post of minister.

The Greens proposed Ladislav Miko for environment minister and they want Michael Kocab (unaffiliated, nominated for the Greens) to continue as human rights and minorities minister.

But Paroubek said today that he disliked these two nominations.

The Greens allegedly said they would not take part in the formation of the caretaker government unless their two candidates were accepted.

According to an agreement between the three parties and Fischer, the ODS is to nominate seven ministers, the CSSD eight, and the Greens two.

Fischer's cabinet is to rule the country for the last two months of the Czech EU presidency and lead it towards the autumn early elections. It is to replace Topolanek's centre-right government that lost a no-confidence vote in parliament that the CSSD initiated in late March.

Autor: ČTK
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