Prague - Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek at the weekend reiterated his earlier pledge to shake up the cabinet and announced he would defend party chairmanship at the upcoming convention of the Civic Democrats (ODS).
The premier said his goal was to "make the cabinet stronger and more economical", although he refused to specify which ministers should be replaced before Jiří Čunek, deputy PM and KDU-ČSL leader, came back from the US. "It must be a project of all three coalition partners," said Topolánek.
The media has speculated that the premier may want to fire Health Minister Tomáš Julínek (ODS), who has been criticised for his handling of healthcare reforms even by part of his own party, or Agriculture Minister Petr Gandalovič (ODS).
'Humility, responsibility and change'
Topolánek also reiterated his statement that a long-term cooperation with the opposition Social Democrats (ČSSD) and their leader Jiří Paroubek is not acceptable for him.
The premier warned that, after his party lost recent regional and senate elections to the ČSSD, the Communists (KSČM) are for the first time getting senior positions in regional governments.
"It is alarming that the ODS was not able to face the aggressive campaign. We gave up on communication with the voters. What is necessary now is humility, responsibility and change," said Topolánek.
Premier v mayor at ODS convention
At the same time, the PM officially announced his intention to seek re-election as ODS chairman at a party congress scheduled for 5 December.
"This has been a hard decision for me," said Topolánek. "A politician and a statesman must know how to win, but also how to lose and how to minimize the damage."
Topolánek will face Prague Mayor Pavel Bém, who confirmed his leadership ambitions earlier last week. Other potential contenders, including MEP Jan Zahradil and outgoing Moravia-Silesia regional governor Evžen Tošenovský, are considering whether to join the race.
