S-card divides coalition

The prime minister’s decision on the S-card project has raised the ire of the coalition party TOP 09 which holds the social affairs portfolio. Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek lashed back at the prime minister on Thursday saying the S-card project was viable and deserved support but had failed to get it because the prime minister feared for his political future since his own party had written him off. Prime Minister Necas said he would not respond to stupid, impertinent remarks, but Civic Democrat deputy chairman Jiri Pospisil reacted in anger telling Mr. Kalousek not to pass judgement on Civic Democratic Party affairs.