"The atmosphere in the regional organisation is without any Deputy Wolf leaves Czech opposition Social Democratic Party ...
Czech government should stop talks on radar - Social Democrats ... problems," Lubomir Zaoralek, head of the branch and CSSD shadow foreign minister, told CTK. Zaoralek said on behalf of the branch he called on Wolf to return. Wolf, a member of the regional branch, cited the dissent inside it as one of the reasons for his departure from the group. Zaoralek said the situation in the regional branch could not have influenced Wolf's decision. "We are not aware of anything that might have led Wolf to such conclusions," Zaoralek said. Zaoralek said Wolf's steps had been connected with the behaviour of former CSSD deputies Milos Melcak and Michal Pohanka who left the party after the 2006 general elections. "We can see behind Wolf's decision the effort of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and the coalition government to secure votes for support to the government projects such as the planned U.S.
radar base in the Czech Republic," Zaoralek said in a statement passed to CTK. "We reject police and corrupt methods with which lawmakers are exposed to the pressure by the governing coalition," Zaoralek said. On Saturday, Wolf left the group, joining another three former Social Democrats who have done so since the 2006 general elections. Wolf has also decided to leave the party. The desertions have reinforced the coalition government of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), the Christian Democrats and the Greens that has only a precarious majority in the 200-member Chamber of Deputies as it only received 100 mandates in the elections. CSSD senior officials said Wolf's departure was caused by pressure and corruption on the part of the ODS. The ODS has dismissed the allegation. Wolf has dismissed it, too. He said Paroubek's unscrupulous methods had caused the deputies to run away from the party. Wolf has received some anonymous threats over what he calls his positive position on the U.S. radar base. Wolf said this was the last straw. He spoke about personal threats and threatening correspondence on the level of heads of regional party organisations connected with the autumn regional elections. Social Democrat leader Jiri Paroubek has called on Wolf to give up his mandate in the Chamber of Deputies. Before Wolf withdrew from the CSSD, the party leaders said they were ready to tolerate the government during the Czech EU presidency in the first six months of next year. However, Paroubek said in reaction to Wolf's desertion on Sunday the CSSD would not discuss vital political affairs as long as the government is headed by Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek (ODS).
(Ceske Noviny)
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