Civic Democrats deny pre-election bargaining

Members of the Civic Democratic Party have denied reports of pre-election bargaining with the Christian Democrats, aimed at guaranteeing support for President Václav Klaus’s re-election. Speculation has the Civic Democrats helping push a property settlement between the state and the Church through Parliament in return for Christian Democrat votes. A proposed settlement between the state and Church on compensation for property confiscated under the Communist regime was reached earlier this week. In a letter on Friday Christian Democrat Cyril Svoboda urged fellow party members to back Mr Klaus in the February 8 presidential election, as a means of improving the bill’s chances. The president has himself reacted with annoyance to speculation over votes bargaining. He made clear he refused to join in any such debate.