In her most note on Czech politics, Eurasia Group analyst Otilia Simkova points out that prime minister Petr Necas is facing increasing difficulty as internal rifts deepen within his Civic Democratic Party (ODS) ahead of October regional and Senate elections. She writes that while fiscal consolidation package is likely to pass with amendments, he will struggle to secure crucial support for his reforms within his own ODS.
Simkova quotes recent popularity polls which suggest the current government coalition has little chance of retaining power as the year ends, and that the prime minister’s position within his own party is under threat.
She goes on to suggest that we may be witnessing a return of Czech president Vaclav Klaus to active party politics. “Looking ahead to March 2013 when the president’s term ends, he may be looking for ways to prepare the ground for a comeback into active politics; potentially back to ODS, of which he is a founder.”
