After months of criticism of government parties, including the home TOP 09, on social networks and in the media, Miroslav Kalousek decided to definitively break ties with the party he founded together with Karl Schwarzenberg years ago.
Speculations about a new political entity, which Kalousek could become the face of, were again stirred up.
Miroslav Kalousek spoke about the new party last week after the regional elections in the Ptám se já podcast with Mariá Bastlová. What was heard on the topic?
You can read or listen to the entire interview here:
Petr Fiala said that he has a clear idea of what needs to be done now. And that he does not want to hand the country over to the left. In this context, if Jan Skopeček, the leader of the Spolu candidate in central Bohemia, forms a coalition with the ANO movement, even if he could govern with STAN, what will that mean? – It is very confusing for voters. When Jan Skopeček is running with the slogan “We are the only ones who can defeat ANO, and come help us with it,” and hesitates whether to allow the ANO movement to rule in central Bohemia, even if it doesn’t have to, then logically the voter will ask himself, what Is everything the parties say true? In my opinion, Martin Půta in Liberec behaves in exactly the same way.
You are on the network X he recalled the pre-election situation in 2009. How similar is the situation now? At this moment, how much room is there on the Czech political scene for a new party that could function, for example, similarly to what TOP 09 did back then? – In the external signs, the situation is very similar, almost the same. The space for the creation of an entity that would serve the topics that today’s parties, which call themselves right-wing, have abandoned is definitely here. I would almost bet that if there is space somewhere and there is a great demand, then someone will come with that demand. I think that is the logical law of the market. I refuse to speculate on who it will be, when it will be, including whether or not I will be there. (…) I would bet on that.
How far in advance is it necessary to come out with such a project in order to have a chance to prepare it responsibly, to prepare for the elections? You started with TOP 09 at the turn of spring and summer, and the elections were supposed to be in autumn 2009. In the end, you had much more time to prepare. – Then there was much more time. I’m not saying this for the first time. The window for someone to present an alternative is not large, from Saturday, when the election results were announced, to the end of January at the most in my opinion. It’s late in February. This means that during this period, either someone will present the project, or they won’t. I’d bet they introduce him.
What topics could such an entity offer voters? What the government promised and didn’t do, to put it simply? – Yes. But also a certain style of communication. Voters of my type, and there are not a few of them, know that there are no easy solutions. They know that not everything can work out. And they are able to understand it.
How much is it worth today? How much money would you say is actually needed for this in your estimation? – They are certainly higher than tens of millions.
And are there people here who are willing to finance such a political force? – There’s no doubt about it. They most certainly are. That’s the least of the problems. And that’s why I don’t know how it will turn out, but the much bigger problem is whether there are people here who are willing to step out of their social comfort zone and throw themselves into public life.
And even if we talk about it like this, you won’t tell me if you will eventually go to the new project or not? – I have my job, I don’t make a living from politics and I don’t want to speculate publicly about my possible political future. I’ve never ruled her out and I certainly won’t speculate about her publicly. Maybe I’m thinking about her. It will definitely be clear by the end of January. – And you think? – Of course you can’t help but think.
