Cunek wants to debate his remaining in Czech govt with KDU first

Czech Deputy PM and junior ruling Christian Democrat (KDU-CSL) head Jiri Cunek wants to discuss his further participation in the government with his party colleagues first on Tuesday, and a discussion with coalition partners should follow only afterwards, he said on public Czech Television today.

Cunek, who has been accused of corruption and faces criticism over his controversial statements on Romanies, was reacting to PM Mirek Topolanek’s (Civic Democrats, ODS) words that the Christian Democrats should persuade their chairman to leave the government.

Topolanek told this to the weekend issue of the daily Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD).

The KDU-CSL expressed support for Cunek in the past days. The party’s national conference is to meet again on Tuesday.

Cunek said he does not expect the conference to vote on him again. "Nevertheless, we’ll discuss things," he said, adding that "all issues creating tension will be discussed," including the government’s draft economic reform.

Topolanek told MfD that he would view it as the worst possible option if he were forced to dismiss Cunek from the government.

"I hope that KDU-CSL leaders understand now that the situation is serious, that this [Cunek’s scandal] has destabilised the coalition, that tension in individual parties and between parties is growing and that a solution is necessary," Topolanek told MfD, adding that he would prefer the KDU-CSL persuading its chairman [to resign] by itself.

Cunek today indicated that in talks with the KDU-CSL’s coalition partners, the ODS and the Greens (SZ), he will more toughly defend himself against criticism aimed at him.

"These are the last moments I’ll refrain from strong words. I’ve allowed myself being sniped at so far," he said.

Cunek said he would consider his dismissal a violation of the coalition agreement. He would not speculate on whether the KDU-CSL would completely withdrew from the government if he were sacked.

The KDU-CSL has five ministers in the 18-seat government.

SZ chairman and Deputy PM Martin Bursik last week said that the SZ might leave the coalition if Cunek remained in the government.

The opposition calls on him to resign as well.

Cunek, accused of taking a bribe from a real estate company while mayor of Vsetin, north Moravia, in 2002, insists he his innocent and does not intend to resign.

It seems to him that injustice has been inflicted upon him and he wants to prove that he has not committed any crime, he said today.

Apart from the corruption accusation, Cunek’s government seat has also been rocked by his recent controversial statements on Romanies, which Romany activists say might have fomented hatred towards Romany ethnicity and therefore they would lodge a criminal complaint against him.

Cunek said that though no one has invited him to attend, he would not shun a discussion with participants in the Romany demonstration due in Prague on Wednesday.

"However, if the demonstration were attended by people reproaching me for things that never happened or that I’ve never said, or people who don’t want to understand that we must work if we want money, then the discussion would be difficult," Cunek said.