Czech opposition leader discusses budget, reforms, unions, Temelin nuclear plant

• Published in: BBC Monitoring European
• Format: Newsletter
• Language: English
• Published: London BBC Worldwide Limited 30.07.2011
• Subjects: Coalition governments; Cooperation; Labor unions; Low income groups; Political parties; Prime ministers; Sobotka, Bohuslav; Tax reform; Taxation; Voters; CZECH

[Sobotka] I think that in connection with the next government the Social Democrats have one basic duty. In the next government we must thoroughly defend the interests of the middle classes and low-income groups. On the basis of this aim we must choose our partners. The voters will decide to what extent the Social Democrats will be able to do this thoroughly. I contend that, in order for us to remedy the mistakes of the current unjust reforms, the mistakes of the current budgetary, tax, and economic policy, we must have a wide manoeuvring space. I do not want to narrow down this space by ruling out anyone from direct government cooperation, expect for the KSCM [Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia], because there is a clear CSSD resolution [CSSD party congress resolution forbidding cooperation with KSCM at national government level], which has not been and is not doubted. As far as cooperation with parties of the current governing coalition is concerned, I find it very hard to envisage this. Because the reforms that these parties are implementing are in opposition to the CSSD's vision of the world. And they are in contravention of the interests of middle and low income groups. This government is simply going thoroughly against the middle classes. I find it hard to imagine that in a coalition with the ODS or TOP 09 we could remedy the mistakes of the current reforms, introduce progressive taxation and abolish patient healthcare fees. However, maybe the future will surprise us. In any case it is important for the CSSD's programme, which is based on a society of social solidarity and on a remedying of the mistakes being made by the current coalition, to receive as strong support as possible in the next election. [Sobotka] The relationship between the Social Democrats and the labour unions is always going to be close and is always going to be a subject of public interest. We, as the Social Democrats, share a range of values with the labour unions. Nevertheless, we each play a different role in society. The labour unions are not going to, and cannot, play the role of a political party, and the Social Democratic Party is not going to, and cannot, replace the role of the unions. I think that the communications between the Social Democrats and the labour unions is now very friendly and very practical. We are mutually supporting each other, because we share a critical stance towards the unjust government reforms. And we are conducting a debate with the labour unions not only about how to confront these reforms, but also a debate about how to rectify and remedy these reforms in a situation in which the Social Democrats gain the confidence of the public and win the next election. At the same time I think that it certainly does not benefit the role of the labour unions, for them to be markedly connected in some way with one political party. This could undermine their authority, because after all union members are voters of various parties. The Social Democrats do not have an ambition to have some kind of monopoly on relations with the unions. [[Bohuslav Sobotka]] Before the 2010 election the VV the Social Democrats copied this part of the Social Democrat electoral programme and on the basis of this also gained a number of our former voters. However, people very quickly ascertained that the VV does not mean this seriously. For one year already the VV has been obediently voting for a policy that leads to a reduction of taxes for firms and the richest people, and not for a policy that would strengthen a just taxation policy. We have contacted the VV several times, and this is not a case of some secret negotiations. We have spoken with them directly, during a debate in the Chamber of Deputies. We have called on them to vote for our proposal for greater progressive taxation. The VV supported the rejection of this bill. The VV also supported the rejection of our proposal for the introduction of wealth declarations. The credibility of their current stances is very low.