A drawn-out government crisis over the controversial head of human resources at the Czech Education Ministry has been resolved in a most surprising way. Ladislav Bátora, the figure at the centre of the dispute, who came under fire for his past links to the extreme Nationalist Party and for insulting the foreign minister online, has not been sacked but is to be relocated to the less visible but technically higher position of vice-chancellor to the education minister. TOP 09 leader Karel Schwarzenberg, who was insulted by the civil servant in question has thanked Education Minister Josef Dobeš for his accommodating approach in the matter, explained that his party’s firm stand was a matter of principle in combating extremism and promised that the party’s ministers would no longer boycott cabinet meetings. After two weeks of muscle-flexing over the fate of a civil servant the government crisis is ostensibly over – but it has left many people wondering what exactly the dispute was all about. Radio Prague asked political analyst Petr Just for his take on one of the most bizarre crises in Czech politics.
Ladislav Bátora, poto: CTK
“Actually everyone is wondering what this was all about – even political scientists and commentators –because there are a lot of unanswered questions and uncertainties about the original purpose of this crisis and that is a question for TOP 09 to answer – what was the real problem in the Bátora case. Because their reaction in the dispute was to boycott all cabinet sessions and suddenly they have announced that they are ready to return although Mr. Bátora was only moved from one position at the ministry to another - a position that is less visible, but quite influential. Mr. Bátora remains a civil servant, he remains a controversial figure and he is not someone who will keep quiet and refrain from commenting on controversial issues in Czech politics and society. So this affair could flare up again at any time in the future –whenever Mr. Bátora says something controversial.”
In this controversy the Civic Democrats accused TOP 09 of using the dispute as a pretext to rock the coalition boat or even leave the government and trigger early elections. Do you think that might have been the case?
Education Minister Josef Dobeš, photo: CTK
“That is one explanation we have heard and there will be many other theories liked to this scandal. It is true that every political party – and this is quite natural – wants to strengthen its position as much as possible. If it is in government it should - on the one hand - cooperate with its coalition partners, but on the other hand even its coalition partners are rivals who are all pushing their own interests and doing their best to be seen as the leading force in the coalition, those taking the main responsibility in government matters. That is how every party would like to be seen and that is obviously how TOP 09 wants to be seen. On the other hand, it is not in the party’s interest to trigger early elections. I don’t think early elections would suit any of the coalition parties right now because the government is quite unpopular and faces opposition not just from its political opponents but from trade unions and other interest groups. So this would not be a good time for early elections for TOP 09 or any of its partners in government.”
Well, now that the crisis seems to be over – who are the winners and losers?
TOP 09 leader Karel Schwarzenberg, photo: CTK
“I would say that the winner is Mr. Bátora and the people around him –because in reality nothing much has changed. Mr. Bátora will no longer be director of human resources –he will be deputy director of the minister’s office which is an even more influential position. He remains in state administration and is still in a position where he can provoke or attract attention.”
