Paroubek: No better time to push for direct vote for president

The opposition Social Democrats say they will push for a direct vote for the post of president by the Czech electorate. The party’s leader Jiří Paroubek said on Sunday that in the light of public opinion there was no more opportune time to make the proposal. Many Czechs have been distinctly unimpressed by the horse-trading and alleged “mafia” tactics seen in two recent presidential elections. Direct elections for president are part of the Green Party’s manifesto, while the Communist Party would also support the idea, if there were a limit on campaign financing. The Civic Democrats and Christian Democrats are also willing to consider the proposal.