Greens threaten to leave government unless truck restrictions broadened

In a week’s time, the government was to have begun discussing the tightening of restrictions on long-haul trucks in the Czech Republic. But the talks have now been postponed. The prime minister met on Tuesday with hauliers’ representatives, and following their meeting, suggested that restrictions might not be quite so clear-cut. Now, the issue will be discussed only later in August. The prime minister’s move has left coalition partners the Greens far from happy and they wasted no time in response, saying that unless new restrictions were introduced, they would leave the government.

Mirek Topolánek, photo: CTK

The broadening of restrictions on long-haul vehicles on Czech highways has always been a cornerstone of the coalition agreement between the Civic Democrats, the Christian Democrats and the Greens, but so far no promises have been fulfilled: the government was meant to begin discussing changes next week, but after Tuesday’s meeting between hauliers and the prime minister, those will have to wait. Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek made clear on Tuesday that the matter would still need to be examined in greater detail:

“We need to look into this into more detail. The alternative proposal which was to have discussed on the 23 of July will not be on the agenda.”

The prime minister’s concession to postpone the government agenda as well as a promise for a new study gauging the economic impact of the planned restrictions - met with approval from hauliers but with none from the Green Party. The party’s leader Martin Bursík pulled no punches:

Martin Bursík and Martin Říman, photo: CTK

“This is an absolute priority for the Green Party and unless the restrictions on Fridays are introduced we will leave the government.”

The Greens want to see broadening restrictions on heavy vehicles on Czech highways and major roads pushed to two days a week, year-round, according to an agreement negotiated by Mr Bursík and the Transport Minister Aleš Řebíček this year. Currently, trucks are only banned on Fridays between 5 and 10 pm and then only in July and August. The new restrictions would shift the hours somewhat on Fridays and also introduce bans on Sundays. Above all, the bans would be year-round, reducing traffic on Czech highways and major roads at peak hours and lowering the danger of deadly traffic accidents. Some, like Mr Bursík, have noted that 40 percent of deaths on Czech roads happen on Friday or Sunday.

But transport companies have questioned whether restrictions will have a positive effect: they have complained that year-round ban will negatively impact their businesses and stated that even if restrictions were to go ahead that the ground has not been properly set: new restrictions, implemented on 1 January 2009, for example, would require up to 80 percent more rest areas for heavy vehicles than there are currently in existence.

It will now be up to the prime minister to somehow satisfy all sides in what is yet another balancing act. That won’t be easy: hauliers have made clear in the past they will launch demonstrations if they don’t get their way, while the Greens have already made clear this is one issue on which they simply won’t budge.