Archive: Domestic affairs | Politics Politics
Former police chief appointed interior minister
President Vaclav Klaus on Thursday appointed Jan Kubice the country’s new
interior minister. The former head of a police squad for fighting organized
crime comes with the reputation of a zealous civil servant who was not
afraid to pick a fight with politicians. He became a household name in 2006
when he leaked a report to the press in which he claimed that organized
crime had infiltrated state administration. Who is the new Czech interior
minister and why has his appointment infuriated the opposition? More
Pundit predicts problems ahead for re-jigged cabinet
President Václav Klaus has welcomed the coalition agreement reached by the
country’s three centre-right parties on Monday night in an effort to save
the country’s pro-reform government. Speaking to journalists in the
northern city of Liberec on Tuesday the president said he was ready to
accept the proposed Cabinet changes and indicated that he himself had
exerted no small effort in helping to break the deadlock. However the
cosmetic government reshuffle has raised plenty of criticism and many
commentators are skeptical regarding the coalition’s long-term chances of
survival. Pundit Jiří Pehe says the agreement is a temporary truce
enforced by circumstances. More
Coalition parties shelve their differences to avert threat of early elections
Leaders of the ruling centre-right coalition stepped away from the brink on
Monday night, reaching agreement on a cabinet re-shuffle that would allow
the pro-reform government to remain in office. The agreement comes in the
wake of a crippling corruption scandal that led to numerous rifts within
the governing coalition and resulted in a dramatic slump in public support. More
President’s use of power an issue again as he assumes a leading role in the government crisis
As the crisis in the Czech government has played out over the last two
weeks, the country’s President, Václav Klaus, has taken on a key role in
how events have unfolded. The president leapt into the turmoil at the point
where he was asked to approve the departure of three ministers from the
Public Affairs party; his refusal to do so has again raised the question of
whether Mr Klaus exceeds the duties of his office or makes the tough
decisions that the country needs. More
Tables turn on Civic Democrats in ongoing government crisis
The Czech government has found itself is in an ever deepening crisis, and
it is unclear whether it will be able to right its course or whether the
coalition will fall, paving the way for early elections. Over the last 24
hours, coalition negations yielded few results, while new evidence emerged
suggesting that the crisis may have been the result of sabotage by rebel
MPs as well as members of the coalition leading Civic Democrats. More
Prime Minister Nečas moves to try and break coalition deadlock
The on-going crisis within the Czech government has come to a point where a
mere meeting of coalition leaders might be a significant step ahead. After
President Václav Klaus refused to accept the proposed changes to the
cabinet until he was told exactly how things would proceed, Prime Minister
Petr Nečas gave way and convened an informal meeting of Civic Democrat,
TOP 09 and Public Affairs leaders for Wednesday night that should come up
with ways of breaking the deadlock within the coalition. Radio Prague spoke
to commentator Eric Best, and asked him whether he thought this could bring
the crisis to an end. More
No tangible progress as coalition parties pledge to save pro-reform government
The three parties of the Czech coalition government went back to the
negotiating table on Monday to try to mend the rifts that have emerged in
the wake of a crippling corruption scandal involving the junior coalition
party Public Affairs. The meeting produced a verbal pledge to try to save
the coalition in its present form, but no tangible progress, indicating
just how difficult it may be to overcome the present crisis. More
Pundit: early elections may be the only viable option
The fate of the Czech government hangs in the balance in the wake of a
corruption scandal involving the junior coalition party Public Affairs. The
prime minister’s intention to dismiss two Public Affairs ministers
perceived as close allies of Transport Minister Vít Bárta who resigned on
Friday amidst allegations of corruption, have raised the ire of the
smallest party in government. Public Affairs has threatened to walk out
unless its coalition partners sweep before their own doors first –
triggering a broad cabinet reshuffle. The deadlock over who should stay and
who should go has precipitated a crisis that could result in early
elections. Radio Prague asked political analyst Jiří Pehe to assess the
government’s chances of survival. More
Transport Minister Vít Bárta resigns over corruption allegations
Five days of scandal rocking the Public Affairs party came to a head on
Friday with the resignation from the cabinet of the man recognised as the
party’s unofficial leader, Transport Minister Vít Bárta. After seeming
to consolidate support in the party, amid allegations he had bought the
silence and loyalty of certain members with up to a million crowns or more,
Mr Bárta announced we would be leaving so as not to damage the
government’s ongoing work on reforms. More
Scandal within junior coalition member Public Affairs shakes government
Corruption allegations against the junior member of the governing
coalition, Public Affairs, are threatening to further unbalance a
government that has seen its share of scandals over the past months. Public
Affairs’ deputy chairman Jaroslav Škárka was dismissed from the
self-styled anti-corruption party on Tuesday, after his claims that he was
getting paid to ensure his silence on the party’s financial dealings
became public. His allegations against party leader and transport minister
Vít Bárta have unfurled speculation whether or not the government can
weather the storm – or has to think of an alternative coalition scenario. More
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