(Adds finance minister, PM comment)
By Jan Lopatka
PRAGUE, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Czech Prime Minister Mirek
Topolanek delayed a reshuffle of his minority cabinet on Monday
after coalition partners asked for time to consider the changes
that may include the appointment of a new finance minister.
Topolanek has been seeking to strengthen the centre-right
government after a heavy loss to leftist opposition in October
regional and upper house elections, weeks before the country
took over the rotating European Union presidency on Jan. 1.
The government's weakness has fuelled concerns among EU
members about the central European state's ability to lead
efforts to tackle Europe's worst economic crisis in generations,
deal with conflict in the Middle East and address the
Russia-Ukraine gas dispute.
"The coalition partners asked for an opportunity to discuss
my proposals," Topolanek told a news conference.
"The changes will be done to make the cabinet more
effective, it must be done in a way that will not threaten the
(EU) presidency."
Topolanek refused to give details but his statement appeared
to be in line with expectations the foreign and European affairs
portfolios held by Karel Schwarzenberg and Alexandr Vondra would
not be affected.
Topolanek's two coalition partners said they needed about a
week to discuss the changes. The prime minister has twice
postponed his cabinet reshuffle, in an indication, analysts say,
of tough negotiations with coalition parties.
Topolanek's coalition has suffered infighting and defections
that have narrowed the cabinet's ranks in the lower house to 96
of the 200 seats. The opposition wants the next election, due in
2010, brought forward.
The government will face tough votes in the coming months in
parliament to ratify the EU's Lisbon treaty and a plan to host a
U.S. missile defence radar.
FINANCE MINISTER UNDER FIRE
Jiri Cunek, head of the junior coalition Christian Democrat
Party, proposed that Topolanek dismiss Finance Minister Miroslav
Kalousek, Cunek's rival within his party.
"The chairman confirmed to me that he had really put forward
this proposal. I acknowledged it," Kalousek said in a statement,
adding he would work to ensure a smooth handover of the
ministry.
But Kalousek's fate remains unclear. He has won backing from
Topolanek, who said he was the best minister the Christian
Democrats ever had.
Under Kalousek's watch the Czech budget gap reached just 1.2
percent of gross domestic product last year, below the planned
2.95 percent.
A source involved in the talks told Reuters Cunek had
offered to replace Kalousek with non-partisan Tomas Sedlacek,
31, chief macroeconomic strategist at bank CSOB, a unit of
Belgium's KBC <KBC.BR>.
Cunek, who can nominate candidates to the Finance Ministry
which his party controls, declined to comment but said he may
give more information on Tuesday. He also declined to comment on
reports that Topolanek wanted him to leave the cabinet.
(Additinal reporting by Jana Mlcochova and Jan Korselt; Editing
by Janet Lawrence)
