Prague - Yesterday, Czech Agriculture Minister Ivan Fuksa was sacked from his post by Prime Minister Petr Nečas - both are members of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), the largest member of the Czech center-right coalition.
The sacking reflects internal problems and personal struggles the party has been suffering from recently.
PM Nečas said that his decision was motivated by mistakes made by the minister, and that he had been disappointed with his work for a long time. Nečas said that he even thought about sacking Fuksa in spring this year.
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However, the regional organization of ODS in Central Bohemia expressed a resolute support for its member, Fuksa. The representatives of the regional organization said that Fuksa was sacked as a result of an internal power struggle in the party.
Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek from the conservative TOP 09 backed this view, adding that according to him Fuksa was a competent member of the government.
Fuksa believes that Nečas sacked him in order to influence the forthcoming regional conference of ODS in the Central Bohemian region.
Fuksa went so far as to compare the internal situation in ODS to the communist regime in the former Czechoslovakia.
From an interview Mr Fuksa gave to Aktualne.cz, a Czech online daily, it appears that the Central Bohemian region's ODS is above all unhappy with the influence exercised on the government by Vít Bárta, the kingmaker and informal leader of a junior government party Public Affairs.
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The party has been the protagonist of numerous scandals since the three-party coalition was formed in summer 2010.
Fuksa said that after both Vít Bárta and Radek John, the chairman of Public Affairs, left the government, the situation is better, but Vít Bárta is still pulling the strings.
The ex-minister also criticized the internal atmosphere in ODS, arguing it is currently defined by the absence of discussion. "Our conflicts of opinion tend to carry over into personal relations," Fuksa said.
Mr Fuksa even compared the situation to the communist regime in the former Czechoslovakia. "Back then, people were afraid to say their opinion," he said.
"Visiting (the Czech Repubic's) regions, I have often heard: there is no teamwork, the mandate of the leadership should not be extended. But suddenly, everybody is raising their hands (to vote in favor)," Fuksa added.
In spite of all the criticism, Fuksa said that Petr Nečas is a good prime minister, capable to implement the reforms needed by the country.
