Bem said the national congress should confirm Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek in the post. Bem, considered Topolanek's main rival in the party, said his victory over Topolanek would spark off a confrontation that would weaken the fragile governing three-party coalition. "I am convinced that if the Czech current government is to work, there should be no duel in the party.
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Czech Prime Minister meets Berlusconi during Italian holiday ... approve Topolanek in the post," Bem said. "I will not run for the post of party leader as I bear in mind that a success would mean confrontation that would weaken the government's fragile stability," Bem said. Bem said he could hardly imagine the prime minister not being also the party leader. The change could only occur if "some deals were struck and no such developments seem to be in the offing in the ODS," Bem said. "I can hardly imagine the ODS and the government to survive if anyone but Topolanek were elected as the party leader," Bem said. Bem said the autumn regional and Senate elections would be the "mirror of the successfulness of the governing policy." However, it is not realistic to expect the ODS to win the elections in all the 13 regions, he added. "We are defending 12 positions [of regional governors], ten would be a success. The loss of one half of regional governors would be disastrous," Bem said. Topolanek said in January the ODS would defend the posts of nine regional governors. Bem said the election outcome would influence the atmosphere at the party congress. "Topolanek has repeatedly said that if he does not manage to have the crucial reform legislation passed, the government will lose legitimacy. I agree with him," Bem said. "This may trigger dramatic twists and turns that might affect the congress. Still I do not think that any emergency scenarios will occur," he added.
(Ceske Noviny)
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