Bursik admits his Greens could leave govt over Cunek

Christian Democrat (KDU-CSL) leader Jiri Cunek’s further remaining in government posts might prompt the junior ruling Greens (SZ) leave the government coalition, SZ chairman Martin Bursik admitted on Czech Television and TV Nova today.

SZ members have reportedly agreed that it would be a great problem for the SZ to remain in the coalition along with Cunek.

"I have so much experience with the Green Party that I think this would really be a problem," Bursik said.

He said he can see no other solution but Cunek’s departure from the government.

Cunek, deputy PM and local development minister, has been prosecuted on suspicion of corruption since February. Most recently his position further worsened over his controversial statements concerning Romanies.

According to unofficial information published by the daily Pravo, Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek (Civic Democrats, ODS) wants to dismiss Cunek from the government although the KDU-CSL national conference discussed his case only marginally on Wednesday.

Earlier on Wednesday, the KDU-CSL presidium passed a resolution condemning racism and xenophobia.

Government spokesman Martin Schmarcz has said that Topolanek definitely does not consider Cunek’s case closed.

The centre-right coalition, established after seven months of complex post-election negotiations late last year, commands 100 votes in the 200-seat lower house. The senior ruling ODS has 81 seats, the KDU-CSL 13 and the SZ 6.

In the 18-member government the ODS has nine ministers, including the PM, the KDU-CSL five and the SZ four ministers.