Social Democrats divided over possible coalition with Communist Party

Social Democratic Party members have reservations to party leader Bohuslav Sobotka’s statement regarding the possibility of entering into a coalition with the Communist Party following the autumn general election. According to a flash poll conducted by Czech Radio some party members feel that the party has not sufficiently distanced itself from the atrocities committed in the 1950s, such as the judicial murder of politician Milada Horáková. Others have a problem with its negative stance to NATO and the EU. Labour Minister Michaela Marksová said that while cooperation with the Communist Party at regional level had proved successful, she would be more cautious about forming a coalition government with them. In 1995 the party approved the so called Bohumín resolution which bans cooperation with the Communists at government level. The issue is expected to be discussed at the party’s election conference in March.