“Cheerful collaboration” with SPD and dragging for functions. Prague 4 has a fragile government
The ruling coalition (YES, ODS, TOP 09) had to deal with the transfer of Klára Cingrošová to the SPD and the related resignation of Jitka Zykánová in June (TOP 09). Opposition Pirates expelled Maria Jelínková at the beginning of August because of metro D, but they have not been able to agree with the Green Party and other representatives on a possible postponement of the post of mayor, who still belongs to Irena Michalcová (YES).
A fragile government with a predominance of a single vote in the 45-member council was formed at Nusle City Hall after the municipal elections in 2018. In April of the following year, the first “crack” occurred – due to “long-term dissatisfaction” (as you write cooperation) with the coalition of the Greens and Independents, Pirates and the Together for Prague 4 group (STAN and KDU-ČSL), thanks to the voice of the People’s “defector” Josef Svoboda, the mayor Petr Štěpánek (Greens) and most councilors were removed.
The “cracked” leadership of the city district can definitely “break” another change in party colors. Cingrošová was elected ODS in the 2018 elections, from which she resigned last year and remained a member of the ODS representative club as an independent. This year she joined the SPD and in recent public contributions she radically defines herself against vaccination on covid-19, vaccination passports and shared, for example, the pre-election anthem of the Tomia Okamura movement, sung by Petr Kolář.
Pirates claim to be mayor
Former Štěpánek wrote in the spring that the ODS and TOP 09 are “cheerfully collaborating” with the SPD, and in addition they support the mayor for YES, which ended up in 29th place in the voters’ vote. According to the (victorious in the elections), the Pirates lost the current coalition’s “ability to act” at the March council meeting, when the agenda was not approved. “It is unacceptable for us that the coalition relies on the voice of the extremist SPD group,” said Tibor Vansa.
The Greens therefore proposed to represent the elected groups in a new series according to the election results. However, the agreement of the opposition clubs is tied to the disputes over the chair of the mayor, which are claimed by the Pirates and they would like to sit in Štěpánek again. TOP 09 used to condition participation in this project with a clear idea of the future leader.
“As the last two meetings of the city council have shown, the program of the council and the vast majority of points are voted in favor of coalition and opposition votes. Thanks to this broad democratic support, TOP 09 does not rely on the vote of representatives who transferred from the ODS to the SPD, “Michal Hroza, Deputy Mayor of Prague 4 and a member of the management of the Prague organization TOP 09, now told the Prague daily.
Hroza refused that the local cell would behave in conflict with the national or regional resolution of the party: “TOP 09 Prague 4 has never acted, will not act and will not negotiate with the SPD. The coalition is closed with the ODS. “
However, Zykánová, who was replaced in July by Petr Tomáš Opletal, could not reconcile together. “Because being in a coalition with the SPD is a bottom for me,” he told Deník N. However, the former representative remained in the TOP 09 and resigned only from her representative mandate so as not to harm her own party.
The SPD member is not aware of her toxicity
Before Zykánová resigned, the criticized Cingrošová vacated the position of chairwoman of the town hall commission for culture, leisure and religious societies. “I did so even though I am not aware of my toxicity suddenly caused by joining one of the parliamentary parties,” she added for the PrazskyNoviny.cz website.
However, a member of the SPD is still in the editorial line of the Tučňák magazine, which publishes the city district every month. And a close coalition majority still depends on her voice. “The proper conduct of the council is superior to the tricks that are petty and artificially made. Work for citizens is more important, “added Cingrošová. Former Mayor Štěpánek also spoke similarly a few months ago: “While some are vying for seats on the council, we are primarily concerned with the quality of life of our citizens.”
Deputy Mayor Zdeněk Kovářík (ODS) told Pražský deník: “The Prague 4 City Council is stable and is cooperating with the opposition on fundamental issues of the coalition.”
But the question of whether a fragile government will “burst” once more, or endure in this uncertain format until next year’s elections, remains unanswered for the words of politicians.