Has Prime Minister Spidla mishandled presidential elections?

Some commentators have been suggesting lately that Social Democrat Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla has mishandled the presidential elections. In an attempt to stamp his authority on the party and prevent his larger-than-life predecessor Milos Zeman becoming president, Mr Spidla came up with a public poll to choose the Social Democrats' candidate. It did not go as he had wished. With the prime minister's choice to succeed Vaclav Havel - ombudsman Otakar Motejl - coming third, Vladimir Spidla is now having to back second place Jaroslav Bures, who several Social Democrat MPs and senators have said they will not be voting for. The poll's winner, Mr Zeman, is biding his time with an eye to making his move in a possible second vote. I asked commentator Vaclav Zak how the prime minister had gotten himself into this situation, and why he had not simply said six months ago that he wanted Otakar Motejl to succeed Vaclav Havel.

Has Prime Minister Spidla mishandled presidential elections?

Vladimir Spidla, photo: CTK

"Well, because it would be seen by many people in the Social Democratic Party that he is ungrateful to Mr Zeman. That was the reason. He tried to be polite and not to become a father-killer, because he was appointed to his office with the help of Mr Zeman and he didn't want to say openly that he wouldn't like to see Mr Zeman at Prague Castle. And because of that he created this public poll, and he expected that Mr Motejl would be the winner of that poll and that would create for him a good situation, and he could nominate Mr Motejl for president. But unfortunately the results were on the contrary. Mr Zeman won this referendum and (Mr Spidla) had a great problem."

Do you think that Mr Spidla isn't really behind Jaroslav Bures as the Social Democrats' candidate for president now?

"Quite certainly not."

Will it be embarrassing for the prime minister when several Social Democratic MPs and senators don't vote for Mr Bures?

Jaroslav Bures and Petr Pithart, photo: CTK

"I think that when we take into account how and why Mr Bures has been nominated - that his nomination is a compromise, because everybody thinks that he won't be elected - I think that it's not embarrassing."

Do you think Mr Motejl is now completely out of the picture?

"From the first round of elections, from the first attempt, quite certainly yes. But I'm afraid that the president won't be elected at the first attempt. What will be next we shall see, and maybe Mr Motejl would have a chance."

Getting back to Mr Spidla, is there any chance that he will be seriously challenged at the next congress of the Social Democrats in a few months time?

"I don't think so. I asked several important Social Democrats this question, and they all told me that it's highly improbable."