Current Affairs MPs who helped topple government stand for Libertas in European elections
The two rebel Civic Democrat MPs, Vlastimil Tlustý and Jan Schwippel, who voted against their party to topple the government in last Tuesday’s no-confidence vote are back in the headlines. This Thursday, both men announced their candidature for the eurosceptic party Libertas.cz ahead of June’s European elections. I spoke to former finance minister Vlastimil Tlustý about what made him vote against Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek’s cabinet, and why, despite representing Libertas.cz at the polls, he had decided to remain a member of the Civic Democratic Party:
Jan Schwippel, Vlastimil Tlustý, Vladimír Železný (left to right), photo: CTK
“Formally, I am a member, but I don’t do anything as a member. In
fact,
I have stopped all activities as a member. It is described in our
constitution - in the constitution of my party. So, formally I am a
member,
but I cannot vote as a member of the Civic Democrats and so on.”
Why would you want to remain a member when you have had such a recent fall-out with the leadership?
“Because I have done nothing wrong. I tried to explain to the current leaders of the Civic Democrats that it is necessary to do what we promised, to realize our programme, to vote against the Lisbon treaty, because we promised this, and the current leaders of the Civic Democrats are not doing this. So, I think that if anyone should be leaving the Civic Democrats, then it is Mr Topolánek and other people who are destroying our programme and our credit. I have no reason to leave the party.”
So, just to clarify, you voted against the government in the recent no-confidence vote because of their stance on the Lisbon treaty, or because of your own stance on Mr Topolánek’s leadership?
“Look, Mr Topolánek left our programme and our voters, and then I left him. That is all.”
About Libertas.cz – is this a branch of the international Libertas movement, or is it an affiliated party in its own right?
“Libertas.cz is at least a sister or brother of Libertas.eu. We have the same programme and we will try to do our best to represent the Czech nation, the Czech Republic, in Brussels.”
Václav Klaus and Mirek Topolánek, photo: CTK
Can I ask you about the funding of Libertas.cz – who is funding
this
party?
“I am not informed. The proposal to be a candidate dates from last Friday, and to be frank, I don’t know.”
Are you worried about now being a candidate for a one-issue party. The Civic Democrats have clear views on social reforms, healthcare reforms and so on, while Libertas.cz doesn’t just yet?
“I am not worried. Look at the Civic Democrats today. They do nothing, no reforms at all. They destroyed not only tax reforms but also pension reforms and healthcare reforms and so on. I am sure that I will actually have more chance to represent the original programme of the Civic Democrats in Libertas than in the Civic Democratic Party itself.”
Does Libertas.cz have the support of Czech president Václav Klaus?
“We have almost the same ideas, almost the same programme, so we are
supporting him, and I hope that at least he is an informal supporter of
parties like Libertas.”
