Czech press survey – January 13

Prague - Czech President Milos Zeman evidently does not strive for an accommodating approach to enable the birth of a new government but he intentionally takes dissident stands thwarting the political mainstreams efforts, Petr Fischer writes in daily Hospodarske noviny (HN) today.

This political strategy enables Zeman to attract the publics attention, control the political debate and also push through his will effectively, irrespective of the majority opinion, Fischer writes.

Zemans public appearance on Friday showed that he will insist on the replacement of some candidates for ministers proposed to him by possible new PM Bohuslav Sobotka (Social Democrats, CSSD), Fischer writes.

Zeman indicated that he would nod to the Sobotka-proposed cabinet lineup if Zemans people, or members of the outgoing caretaker government, occupied the posts of deputy ministers in the new government, but this is unacceptable for the new coalition, judging mainly by the CSSDs reaction, Fischer writes.

Zeman will therefore step up his pressure. Sobotka asserts he will make no concessions, as a result of which Zeman might further protract the Sobotka cabinets appointment, Fischer says.

It would probably be the best if the dispute ended up at the Constitutional Court, whose verdict would indicate whether the president or prime minister-designate should have the upper hand in forming the cabinet, Fischer says.

It is laudable that President Milos Zeman wants to hold regular separate meetings with the new cabinet members in order to discuss their plans and mainly financing of the steps promised by the government, but he cannot do so without appointing the cabinet first, Alexandr Mitrofanov writes in Pravo.

He points to a fresh public opinion poll showing that three-quarters of Czechs want Zeman to use his presidential powers cautiously and to take constitutional habits into account.

This is demanded not only by a majority of those who supported Zemans rival, conservative TOP 09 head Karel Schwarzenberg, in the direct presidential election a year ago, but even by a majority of Zemans supporters, Mitrofanov writes.

It would be naive to expect Zeman to meet this demand of people. The possible new prime minister, Bohuslav Sobotka, and the candidates for ministers whom Zeman intends to grill in the weeks to come know what they can expect and they are probably psychologically prepared for it, Mitrofanov writes.

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Czech press survey - January 13