In November Cunek resigned as deputy prime minister and local development minister over corruption accusations, but shortly afterwards his Czech Christian Democrat leader to return to cabinet ...
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The KDU-CSL has demanded his reappointment to the government posts since. The SZ has been opposed to Cunek's comeback. It says Cunek has not yet sufficiently explained his property deal from the past. Karel Schwarzenberg, foreign minister nominated by the SZ, previously said he would step down if Cunek returned to the government without highlighting his financial transactions in public. The decision on Cunek's appointment is up to Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek (Civic Democrats, ODS). Liska said in a televised debate today that there is no agreement binding the SZ's remaining three ministers to step down if Schwarzenberg did. Nevertheless, he said he does not "admit anything but that the SZ will take a joint stand." Defence Minister Vlasta Parkanova, who is a KDU-CSL deputy chairwoman, today said she believes the protracted controversy will result in agreement between all parties involved. Liska said he does not expect the coalition leaders' meeting on Wednesday to be a breakthrough in the Cunek comeback case. He said the meeting will mainly discuss the continuation of the coalition government of the ODS, the KDU-CSL and the SZ. Moreover, Schwarzenberg's current recovery after a heart surgery will last a few weeks, Liska said. Liska said he expects the KDU-CSL to confirm its demand of Cunek's reappointment at the party national congress in April. Parkanova responded that the resolution the KDU-CSL national committee had approved in this respect last December continues to be valid. The only thing that can change is Cunek's approach, she said. The KDU-CSL wants Cunek's immediate and unconditional return to the government. In an allusion to the KDU-CSL's reservations about the government's health system reform, PM Topolanek recently said he would readmit Cunek into the cabinet if all KDU-CSL deputies stuck to the coalition government's commitments. Topolanek also said another priority of his was that the Greens remain part of the government. The ODS has 9 seats in the 18-member Czech government, the KDU-CSL five seats, including the now vacant seat of local development minister, and the SZ four. Apart from Liska and Schwarzenberg (unaffiliated minister nominated by the SZ), the remaining SZ ministers are Martin Bursik, SZ chairman and minister of environment, and Dzamila Stehlikova, minister in charge of human rights and minorities.
(Ceske Noviny)
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