Tensions between ODS, TOP 09 grow

Two issues are shedding light on a power struggle within the governing coalition as rival parties prepare for October's local elections, say political analysts.

At the heart of this struggle is the declining power of the Civic Democrats (ODS), they say, and the fear among party elites that they are permanently losing ground to TOP 09 as the country's key center-right party.

"TOP 09 is in the best position right now," said Jiři Pehe, a political analyst and former aide to President Václav Havel. "The ODS in particular has much to lose" in the elections.

Prime Minister Petr Nečas (ODS) has been at odds with Foreign Affairs Minister Karel Schwarzenberg and Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek - both of TOP 09 - in highly public disagreements in recent weeks.

The first occurred as Nečas sought to appoint a state secretary for European Affairs, which prompted Schwarzenberg to post a response on the TOP 09 website titled, "I will not allow this."

"I saw the proposal dividing the EU agenda between the prime minister and the Foreign Affairs Ministry that was made by the Office of the Government. According to that, the state secretary should have surprising power. He could be involved in almost all affairs of the ministry," Schwarzenberg said in an interview conducted by a party member.

"I will not allow this person to have more power than the foreign affairs minister."

Many in TOP 09 view the proposal by Nečas as a covert attempt by the ODS to gain control of a component of the country's foreign relations portfolio.

"The ODS behaves the way it did in 1993 toward its then-weak coalition partners, only now things are much more complicated," said political analyst Bohumil Doležal, a former aide to President Václav Klaus when he was prime minister. "First, they let the important ministries go, and now they are trying to get at least some influence there."

The tactics, Doležal said, are a sign of Klaus' increased influence. "Without any doubt, Klaus is now co-deciding ODS policies," he said. "I am afraid this will bring no good. Klaus still lives in the 1990s. The ODS today has a completely different position."  

Kalousek and Nečas have engaged in public bickering over a proposed 100 Kč "flood tax," though it seems they have reached a compromise in recent days. As late as Aug. 23, Kalousek was accusing Nečas of "backpedaling" on the issue. Kalousek wanted an across-the-board flat tax of 100 Kč on all incomes to help finance recovery efforts from August's floods in north Bohemia.

Interior Minister Radek John, the leader of the governing coalition's third party, Public Affairs (VV), joined the fray, supporting Kalousek's version of the story.

"This is a dangerous precedent if an item that has been agreed on suddenly changes into an item that has yet to be agreed on, as the coalition agreement comprises 800 such items," John told the Czech News Agency. 

"There is quite a lot of tension between [Nečas and Kalousek]," Doležal said. "It is weakening the government's authority and ability to act."

Pehe takes it one step further. "Kalousek is in many ways the face of the government; Nečas is fighting for his life," he said.

The stiffest competition between TOP 09 and the ODS will likely take place as the two seek to control Prague City Council. In a shocking defeat for the ODS, TOP 09 won the capital in May's general elections.

Slated to launch its local election campaign Sept. 3, at present the ODS lacks a candidate for mayor of Prague. TOP 09 has tabbed former Czech National Bank Governor Zdeněk Tůma to run for the city's top post.

"The ODS will suffer an unpleasant defeat in Prague," Doležal said. "I dare not guess the overall [nationwide] municipal election results. Very likely, I see TOP 09 winning in Prague and Tůma becoming mayor. However, I am not a futurologist."

- Filip Šenk contributed to this report.

Benjamin Cunningham can be reached at
bcunningham@praguepost.com