Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 05PRAGUE1649, CZECH CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS: STRUGGLE FOR SOUL OF

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05PRAGUE1649.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
05PRAGUE1649 2005-11-25 17:55 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Prague
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPG #1649/01 3291755
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 251755Z NOV 05
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6626
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS PRAGUE 001649 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV EZ
SUBJECT: CZECH CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS:  STRUGGLE FOR SOUL OF 
THE PARTY COULD HAVE LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES 
 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY. The Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) in the 
Czech Republic, a numerically small force, have traditionally 
exercised an influence beyond their numbers, staking out the 
middle ground in order to maintain the option of forming 
coalition governments with larger parties either to their 
left or right. After the 2002 election, the party teamed up 
with the Social Democrats (CSSD) and one other small liberal 
party to form the current ruling coalition. But the party's 
current Chairman, Miroslav Kalousek, elected two years ago 
and reelected to a four-year term this month, has 
increasingly broken ranks with the Social Democrats (CSSD) 
and adopted several conservative positions that have pulled 
the party to the right.  This is likely to set the stage for 
a right of-center alliance with the Civic Democrats (ODS), 
should they be the winners in next summer's election.  If the 
Christian Democrats link themselves too strongly to the Civic 
Democrats and this right-of-center partnership fails to form 
a government, it will most likely mean the end of Kalousek's 
leadership, and possibly even the eventual end of the party 
in parliament. END SUMMARY. 
 
TIGHTENING THE TIES TO ODS 
 
2. (SBU) President Vaclav Klaus, who is honorary Chairman and 
co-founder of ODS, this month attended the KDU-CSL annual 
party congress, the first time a sitting president has done 
so. KDU-CSL -- whose leader brought down former PM Gross 
earlier this year, and a party with a reputation as an 
untrustworthy political ally -- was praised by Klaus as a 
force for stability. Klaus pointed out, much to the party's 
credit, that its three ministers in the current government 
are among the longest serving:  of the 17 members of the 
cabinet created in the summer of 2002, only six are still in 
office, three of whom are from KDU-CSL: Foreign Minister 
Svoboda, Environment Minister Ambrozek, and Transport 
Minister Simonovsky. One reason some observers say Klaus is 
trying to help another political party is the fact that Czech 
presidents are chosen by parliament. Klaus, who would very 
much like to be reelected for a second presidential term in 
2008, knows that the parliament that is elected next summer 
will choose the next president in 2008. Just as KDU-CSL might 
need ODS to stay in parliament, President Klaus might need 
KDU-CSL to stay on as president. 
 
3.  (U) The first speaker at the KDU-CSL Congress this month 
was current ODS Chair, Mirek Topolanek. Topolanek stood 
before a large banner proclaiming, "Socialni Jistoty Bez 
Socialmu" (Social stability, without socialism), and took 
KDU-CSL to task for providing the political cover CSSD needed 
to increase their cooperation with the Communists. But 
Topolanek went on to say that he would welcome KDU-CSL as 
partners in a government that would keep the Communists from 
reasserting their influence. Kalousek is also scheduled to 
speak at the ODS annual party congress this weekend. No 
speakers have been invited from any other Czech political 
parties. 
 
DEMOGRAPHIC AND ATTITUDINAL TRENDS AGAINST KDU-CSL 
 
4. (U) A significant number of KDU-CSL members are 
uncomfortable with the positions that Kalousek has taken, his 
confrontational style, and the result these have had on the 
party. Deputy Chairman Jan Kasal argued at the congress that 
the party should maintain its religious roots, but could show 
a bit more tolerance and flexibility. He argued, for example, 
that abortion should be allowed when the health of the mother 
is threatened. Church attendance and belief in God among 
Czechs have declined steadily over the last decade. A recent 
EU poll shows only 19% of Czechs believe in God.  The 
Catholic Church lost a third of its members in the 1990s and 
other churches showed even larger declines.  The Czech 
Republic is arguably the most secularized country in the EU. 
By linking its lot inextricably with the Church, KDU-CSL also 
makes it harder to attract new members. In fact, the 
Christian Democrats had 44,800 members last year, 15,600 less 
than in 1998. 
 
5. (U) Demographics are not in the party,s favor either. The 
average age of party members is 62.  At the recent party 
congress, the party leadership voted to amend past practices 
and increase the electoral terms for party leaders from two 
years to four, in spite of an impassioned plea from a member 
of the party,s youth wing that such a move would keep any up 
and comers out of any active leadership roles for an 
additional four years, and make it hard for the party to 
field appealing, experienced young candidates in 2010. 
 
6. (U) In addition, the party's positions on a number of 
issues seem to run counter to current trends. The party has 
 
adopted a hard line on narcotics just as the country is 
leaning towards non-criminalization of the possession of 
small amounts of soft drugs. The party promotes family values 
in its published platform. But Czechs have the third lowest 
birth-rate in the world, behind only China with its one-child 
policy, and Hong Kong, where housing shortages and career 
ambitions have led to one-child families. KDU-CSL is the only 
Czech party for whom faith plays any role. KDU is strongly 
opposed to abortion, communism, same-sex marriage, and 
tolerance towards so called soft drugs; and strongly in favor 
of family values and entrepreneurism. For the U.S., KDU-CSL's 
decreasing numbers represent the potential loss of a 
like-minded partner. 
 
7. (SBU) COMMENT: If Kalousek's gamble pays off and 
ODS/KDU-CSL get enough votes to form a government, then 
Kalousek will be in a strong position. He could push for 
KDU-CSL maintaining its three, or possibly even more cabinet 
seats, which would be good for U.S. interests. Foreign 
Minister Svoboda has been particularly good for US-Czech 
ties. Svoboda's personal crusade against the regime in Cuba 
has even led to threats against him and his family. 
 
8. (SBU) In the most recent poll of political preferences, 
released November 17, KDU-CSL was supported by just 6.3%, a 
drop of 2.1% from the October poll.  This leaves them just 
above the 5% threshold for entry into parliament.  They 
should make it into parliament next year, and will almost 
certainly do all they can to link up with whichever party 
forms a government. But if Paroubek's CSSD decides it doesn't 
need KDU-CSL, and the Christian Democrats spend four years in 
the opposition, the party could have trouble getting 5% in 
2010. The current demographic and opinion trends, if 
unchanged, will exacerbate the party's decline. Small 
opposition parties can easily become extraparliamentary 
parties and in the Czech Republic, those tend to become and 
remain politically insignificant. 
CABANISS