Czech SocDems close local organization over ultra-right coalition
The Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) closed its local cell in Duchcov today after its members there formed a local coalition government with the right-wing extremist Workers’ Social Justice Party (Dělnická strana sociální spravedlnosti – DSSS). Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, the party head, proposed the motion to the Central Executive Committee of the ČSSD today.
In the resolution adopted today, the ČSSD rejected any kind of cooperation with the DSSS. A regional-level party committee had met on the issue of closing the Duchcov cell in November, but did not dissolve the local organization despite Sobotka’s call to do so.
Sobotka therefore brought the proposal to close the local organization to the Central Executive Committee himself today. In his view, the Duchcov cell needed to be closed because its practices "contravene the Social Democratic program, its democratic tradition, and the principles that the Social Democrats promote."
The PM is against the forming of coalition governments at any level with parties that have a Fascist or racist character. In his view, the DSSS is such a party.
According to DSSS chair Tomáš Vandas, however, Sobokta’s cabinet should file a motion to have the DSSS dissolved if that is its view. Unless the Government takes such legal action, the DSSS will demand an apology.
Since 1995, the so-called Bohumín resolution has been in effect for the ČSSD, prohibiting its collaboration with extremist political parties. The resolution specifically names the Association for the Republic-Czechoslovak Republican Party, the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, the Left Bloc, the Moravian Nationalist Party and the Party of the Democratic Left.
Despite this resolution, however, the Social Democrats have formed coalition governments since with the communists at both municipal and regional level. The communists are also part of the current three-party governing coalition in Duchcov.
The predecessor to the DSSS, the Workers’ Party (DS), was not created until 2003. In 2010 the Supreme Administrative Court met the Czech Government’s request to dissolve the DS.
The court found that the DS incorporated chauvinistic and xenophobic elements, had a racist subtext, and was carrying on the National Socialism of Adolf Hitler. Representatives of the dissolved party then created the DSSS.
"If Mr Sobotka considers the Workers’ Social Justice Party racist or Fascist, such a party would logically violate the constitutional order of the Czech Republic. In such a case, as Prime Minister, he is responsible for taking direct, immediate action," Vandas said in a press release.
Vandas believes the Government must now file a motion to dissolve the DSSS. If it does not do so, the DSSS chair wants an apology for Sobotka’s "lying statements harming the party’s good reputation."
"There is no need to argue about matters that are clear, evident and visible. There is definitely no need argue about them with Mr Vandas," Sobotka wrote in response.
