"The stories about my authoritativeness in the times when I led the ODS are a big myth.
I would not dare to do even a small Czech bill on settlement with churches no restitution - ministry ...
Czech govt calculation of church property contradicts law - MP ...
Czech govt ODS MP not to support bill on settlement with church ... part of that what is now common," Klaus said, responding to the question whether the current ODS offers sufficient space for discussion. An ODS faction around MP Vlastimil Tlusty has been complaining about the atmosphere in the party for some time. Its members say the ODS leadership avoids discussions in the party, and exerts pressure on them and threatens them to achieve its goals. Tlusty criticised ODS leader and Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek for the way he forced support for the government-proposed public finance reform last year. Tlusty says more and more people in the ODS object to Topolanek's arrogance. Tlusty's faction has clashed with the ODS leadership in the recent days over the bill on settlement with churches. Klaus today sided neither with Tlusty, nor with the government in the state-church settlement dispute. Under the bill submitted by the government, churches are to be returned one-third of their former property, confiscated by the Communists, and to receive 83 billion crowns in compensation for the rest. The compensation is to be gradually paid in the following 60 years. Along with the interests, the sum would climb up to 270 billion crowns. Klaus said he was aware for a long time that it would be very difficult to achieve an agreement on the issue. He recalled that his cabinet dealt with it some 11 years ago, but failed to solve the problem. He said the Catholic Church then unfortunately did not accept the solution his government proposed. ($1=16.166 crowns)
(Ceske Noviny)
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