Premier Gross's government survives vote of confidence

On Tuesday the new government of Stanislav Gross passed its first crucial test, receiving a vote of confidence in the Lower House. The vote followed seven hours of grueling deliberations for and against the new government program - Martin Mikule was on site throughout the day.

Premier Gross's government survives vote of confidence

The Lower House, photo: CTK

Even though the session started at 2 pm you stayed in the Parliament until nearly midnight. Why was that?

"Well, Daniela. I thought that the Parliament would be finished with this issue during the afternoon, but it turned out I was wrong. The opposition deputies saw it as an occasion to criticize the government. They disagree mainly with the economic policy outlined in the programme, and the government coalition deputies on the contrary wanted to defend themselves so in the end the session didn't end till after 10 pm."

How did the debate evolve? What did the opposition dislike?

"Well, it's basically what they have criticized before. Above all, they dislike the speed how the state budget deficit is growing. The right-wing opposition Civic Democrats say that the economic reforms are too weak, that taxes should be lower, that there should be more support for small businesses and less bureaucracy...etc."

In the end the government received the support of all members of the parties in the ruling coalition, but it was not that easy. They got only 101 votes out of 200 deputies in the house so it really is a bare majority? Is that right?

Stanislav Gross and the members of the government, photo: CTK

"Yes. In the end all of the members of the coalition parties voted for the government, but quite a few of them had threatened beforehand that they wouldn't. The government program is criticized from the right-wing ODS as too generous in terms of state budget outlays, but some on the left of the Social Democrats, like Jiri Hojdar, think the contrary. They would put more money especially to support the socially weak. Mr. Hojdar is a well known rebel in the Social Democrats, but this time it was also Jan Kavan, the former Czech foreign minister who joined these rebels. And he criticized mostly the current Czech foreign policy, especially its support for the US involvement in Iraq. But the current foreign minister Cyril Svoboda told me during the session that he did not agree."

"I believe that we do represent a foreign policy which is predictable, stable and profitable for the Czech Republic. We have excellent relations with the neighboring countries, with our allies, within the EU, with the United States. We are going to improve our position on markets, perhaps also in the countries in Asia. This is the new priority we are defining, and I do believe there is no reason for any heavy criticism against my ministry. I am deeply convinced that it is fair to everybody if Mr. Kavan says yes in the vote of confidence."

So now the vote is over, are the rebels in the Social Democrats going to remain silent?

Civic Democrats, photo: CTK

"Well nobody knows...Though Prime Minister Stanislaw Gross was in a good mood and full of optimism. In recent months the situation in the government coalition has been perceived as a cleavage within the Social Democracy. He sees the vote of confidence as a proof that the Social Democrats are pulling together again.

"Over the last two months the media has created the impressions the Social Democratic Party was unable to vote with one voice. But I've been saying the whole time that the situation would get better, that the patient - so to speak - is recovering. Today, I think, I was proven right."

Did you also talk to some of the opposition representatives to ask them for their view?

"Oh yes. I stopped the Civic Democrat Ivan Langer to quickly ask for his impression."

Vlastimil Tlusty, photo: CTK

"The result is good for the government but not good for the Czech Republic. We are loosing two years. Because this country needs really important crucial reforms and this government won't be able to do it."

You are saying that we are loosing two years. Does that mean that you believe that this government will overcome this term?

"Yes they will support each other to survive till the end of this period"

"I also talked to Vlastimil Tlusty who is the chairman of the ODS deputies club. He wasn't so sure about whether this government would be able to survive this term."

"Nobody knows. It's very complicated question and we will see. The first signal will be the discussion about the state budget in the autumn this year."

"And then at 10.30 everybody disappeared from the chamber, just in time to catch the final discipline in the decathlon in Athens."