Czech leftists try split govt on nuclear energy

...the governing coalition.

The centre-right Civic Democrats are in favour of nuclear power in principle but are restrained by the anti-nuclear Green Party, their partner in the ruling coalition.

The Social Democrats proposed that parliament, rather than the government, should decide energy policy and Czech media reported the plan might win support from several Civic Democrat backbenchers.

"I understand that this is some kind of a weak spot in your coalition, and I do not care about that," former Social Democrat industry and trade minister Milan Urban said in parliament.

"We want to make sure that in 2012, 2013, we have enough electricity in the Czech Republic."

The government has 100 seats in the 200-seat lower house of parliament so any internal dissent may lead to approval of the Social Democrat proposal, which would shake the coalition.

The Greens secured a government pledge not to promote new nuclear power units when they joined the government coalition at the beginning of this year. They said the coalition must stick together.

"If coalition deputies vote in favour (of these proposals) that would be in variance with the coalition agreement, then it would be necessary to view it as its violation," said Green Party deputy chief Ondrej Liska.

"(An approval) would show disunity in the coalition and it is tough to govern with such a coalition." He said he expected coalition unity to be maintained.

The main Czech power company CEZ operates two nuclear power plants and has plans to expand capacity by 2,000 megawatts at the site of the existing Temelin station. The plan has been put on ice due to the government policy pledge.

[PRAGUE/Reuters/Finance.cz]