Prague - One month before the presidential elections, politicians from the ruling Civic Democratic Party (ODS) are pretty sure they have already ensured enough votes for their candidate and the party chairman emeritus Václav Klaus to be re-elected.
According to what Aktuálně.cz has learnt, ODS is going to rely on seven members of the opposition Social Democratic Party who are allegedly willing to support Klaus.
Those members of ODS responsible for negotiations on behalf of Klaus said that this Social Democratic "Magnificent Seven" has already promised their votes. And they are equally sure about the support of coalition Christian Democratic Party (KDU-ČSL).
Officially, ČSSD stands behind their own candidate Jan Švejnar and KDU-ČSL hasn't declared their stance publicly yet, but the ODS doesn't let this cloud their optimism.
The leadership of ČSSD denies that some of their members are going to vote for Klaus.
"I resolutely contest a statement made by an alleged fixer of ODS about seven Social Democratic members of parliament determined to give support to Klaus in the presidential elections," said Michal Hašek, a leader of the Social Democratic parliamentary faction, in his statement.
Christian Democrats too?
"Practically speaking, Václav Klaus is already elected," boasted one of the negotiators. He refused to give the names of the seven Social Democrats, but said that their support is granted.
In addition, ODS can allegedly count on almost absolute support of KDU-ČSL (with the exception of maybe one or two lawmakers), which has traded their votes for a recent agreement on the church and state disestablishment, assured the fixer.
Aktuálně.cz has asked some members of KDU-ČSL about the issue and they have confirmed that church property restitutions were crucial.
"It is the key topic for us since we are under pressure from the episcopacy that wants the restitutions at any cost," said one member of the party.
Financial, or political motivation?
Although the Social Democrats admit that their party discipline is not "bulletproof", they still see real chances for Švejnar to be elected. In order to thwart the plans of their rivals and corner all "enemies within", they want the election process to be public.
"I am pretty sure that no Social Democrat would vote for Klaus unselfishly, but I can imagine them being motivated by some form of a benefit, financial or other," speculated the vice chairman of the parliamentary club, David Rath.
However, the ODS denies they have "bought" the support of the seven Social Democrats. "Their motivation is purely political, it is their way of opposing the inner party development," assured a negotiator.
Jaroslav Kubera, a member of the leadership of ODS admitted that they fear the possibility of public voting. According to him, a number of Social Democrats would like to vote for Klaus but they are "terribly scared" that the Social Democrats' leader Jiří Paroubek would ensure some kind of control over the voting.
