However, none of the ODS regional leaders is considering expelling the "problem" deputies from the party as such a step is not in their power. Only their local organisations can expel the deputies from their ranks.
The ODS leadership can also cancel the whole local branch. The "rebels," Vlastimil Tlusty, Jan Schwippel, Alena Paralova, Jan Klas and Juraj Raninec, agreed that the reaction of the party leaders to their voting in the lower house this week was inadequate. The ODS leadership does not communicate with deputies and instead it is intimidating them, the "rebellious" MPs said in their joint statement. The ODS executive council sharply criticised the group of rebels on Monday, saying it was unacceptable that deputies elected for the ODS voted in line with the opposition Social Democrats (CSSD) and Communists (KSCM), at variance with their deputy group's decision and the ODS programme priorities. Most recently, the group of ODS deputies around Tlusty stood up against the government at the lower house extraordinary session last week. Contrary to the plan of Labour and Social Affairs Minister Petr Necas (ODS), they pushed through Paralova's amendment to the law on state social support, according to which parents of seriously ill children are to receive parental benefits longer, until the children turn 15. Paralova's proposal was supported by Tlusty, Raninec, Schwippel and Klas. In their statement, the deputies today dismissed that their voting was motivated by the efforts to side with the left wing against the government. They stressed that Paralova's proposal did not contradict the ODS programme priorities. They also said the given reason for the party's sharp reaction was just a pretext. It was just a "preparation" ahead of more important votes in the autumn, such as the decision on changes to the tax system, the MPs added. The leaderships of the ODS local organisations in Central Bohemia, Pardubice (east Bohemia) and Liberec (north Bohemia) today said they would like to persuade their members to vote along with the majority of the ODS deputy group. Raninec, Schwippel and Paralova told CTK today that they are prepared to vote against other government bills, too, if they were in contradiction with their conviction. Tlusty and Klas made similar statements previously. The coalition government of the ODS, the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) and the Greens(SZ) probably cannot rely on support of some ODS MPs in the vote on tax changes, the anti-discrimination bill, an amendment to the election law and a possible vote on the ratification of the Lisbon treaty to reform EU institutions.
(Ceske Noviny)
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