Prague - A tough dispute has erupted between the Czech government coalition and opposition that could have a visible impact on the Czech EU presidency in 2009.
They are not arguing about important issues but about a single detail instead: Should an opposition MP abstain from voting if a coalition minister, who is usually also an MP, is not able to take part in the voting?
This compensational abstaining, called "coupling", is a gentlemanly agreement that Czech politicians closed several years ago when the coalition parties had only a tight majority in the Chamber of Deputies. Exceptions from this unwritten rule were only made in some highly important votes, including the votes of confidence in government, when all present MPs have voted without regard for absentees.
Coalition seeks 'totalitarian' control
But the opposition now wants to abandon the practice as revenge for coalition parties' attempts to gain majority control in the lower house's committees by changing the number of committee members. The coalition also proposes to increase the number of the chamber's deputy chairs by one that would go to the junior coalition Green Party.
The MPs last Wednesday engaged in a stormy discussion on the proposal, which would change the distribution of power in the lower chamber, but took no vote because their work day ended before they got around to voting.
"This is an open rupture and a revision of the election results," said Jiří Paroubek, leader of the opposition Social Democrats (ČSSD). "In defense, we have stopped offsetting the votes of absent ministers and MPs. After all, they are paid for their work in the lower house," said Paroubek.
David Rath, MP for ČSSD and former minister for health, said the coalition is "retaliating for our criticisms. They want to stop our critique and deprive us of ways to check them." Addressing the senior ruling Civic Democrats (ODS), Rath said: "You are an undemocratic totalitarian party that tries to threaten people. If you could you would lock us all up in jail."
Petr Tluchoř, leader of ODS MP group, described the proposed changes in committees as merely technical. "The committees are not here to control anything but to soberly discuss legislations. If the coalition has majority in the lower house, it is logical that bills should also be able to pass the committees," said Tluchoř.
Ministers, stay home
After Social Democrats withdrew from the coupling agreement, several cabinet ministers canceled their official trips. Education Minister Ondřej Liška (Greens), for example, was to go to Denmark, but stayed at home instead.
"There's nothing else we can do. We have canceled all trips abroad, and the ministers won't travel anywhere during this session," said Tluchoř. Another minister, Martin Bursík (Greens), who is in charge of environment, has canceled a dinner with Visegrad Group colleagues in Luxembourg.
"The focus of the dinner was the preparation of the Czech EU presidency," said Bursík. "I also had to excuse myself from a meeting of environment ministers on Thursday. The Social Democrats are being irresponsible and shortsighted when they don't allow ministers to take part in international meetings while the lower house is in session," said Bursík.
"I am sure that our country will survive even if you miss the meeting," said Paroubek in response. "There is no way ODS can win this fight," he said, adding that his party's refusal to abstain from voting is only the beginning.
