Coalition survives no-confidence vote, pushes through reforms

The three party coalition government of Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla has crossed a major hurdle. Despite its fragile one vote majority in the Lower House it managed to survive a vote of no-confidence called by the opposition Civic Democrats and to push through a package of controversial fiscal reforms which are expected to prepare the country for EU membership in 2004.

Coalition survives no-confidence vote, pushes through reforms

Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla and MP Josef Hojdar, photo: CTK

For weeks the Prime Minister battled opposition to the reforms on which he had staked the government's future. It was clear that if the proposed reform fell through the government would go with it. And the reforms were criticized from both right and left - for being cosmetic and inadequate on the one hand, and too tough on the other. In the end this worked in the Prime Minister's favour. Both trade unions and their supporters in Parliament accepted the argument that a reform drafted by the opposition Civic Democratic Party would be much tougher. Mindful of the consequences, the governing coalition showed a united front -and even rebel deputy Josef Hojdar backed down on his earlier threat to support the opposition in a no-confidence vote, abstaining from the vote instead. So has this trial by fire left the governing coalition stronger? Political analyst Vladimira Dvorakova:

"I think that the fact that the proposed laws passed smoothly strengthened the position of the governing coalition because it was an extremely important task for the coalition see them approved. Of course this coalition of 101 will remain fragile simply because of its razor thin majority - but in some sense this victory has strengthened it."

Do you think that the opposition will continue to rock the boat?

"They will not change their stand, certainly. But the opposition is not strong enough to enforce change, as we have seen. The reform bills have yet to pass through the Senate and be signed by the President and the main question here is what will be the position of the President. It is not so important whether the proposed laws gain approval in the Senate or not because the governing coalition is strong enough to override a veto from the Senate. But if the President should veto any of the laws the ruling coalition would need 101 votes to overturn the president's veto. And at this moment we don't know for certain whether the coalition would have those votes -because there is this one coalition deputy -Mr Hojdar -who did not vote for some of the laws."

President Klaus himself has said he considers the reform inadequate hasn't he?

"That is his position. It is very much a right wing stand. On the other hand Mr. Hojdar, whose vote the coalition might badly need, has criticised them from a left-wing position, so there is the question whether Mr. Hojdar might not be persuaded to change his stand if the President were to veto the reforms. Having said that, this is a Parliamentary system and although the Constitution gives the President right of veto it is not our tradition that the President should influence the economic politics of the Cabinet."

Which leaves President Vaclav Klaus with a big headache. Because he happens to be an economist who set up and for years presided over the opposition Civic Democratic Party which has just tried to bring down the governing coalition.

A decision not to intervene would mean distancing himself from his past work and endeavours. Whatever his decision turns out to be the government must be prepared for it.