Speech of the Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek at the Chamber of Deputies before the Vote of No Confidence delivered on 30th April 2008

There are a lot of good reasons why this government deserves your confidence, or rather why it does not deserve no-confidence. Do not worry, I am not going to specify all of them; I hope that majority of us wants this performance to be finished as soon as possible so that they could work despite that standard and permanent oppositional destruction.

One of many good reasons is that this government is a good government and it is certainly the best one of those possible governments which could have been formed after the stalemate situation after election in 20006. No less good reason for each democrat in this Chamber of Deputies, for everybody who perceives changes after November 1989, is the yesterday's incredible and terrible debate on settlement of relationships with churches. Déjà vu. There are a lot of good reasons for democrats in this hall or behind walls of this building for maintaining this coalition, for trying patiently to reach compromises, for sacrificing personal or collective unsatisfied ambitions.

In spite of this, or just because of this, I will mention a few concrete figures, a few bald facts, some fragments which document success of this government which was achieved not during some eight years, but only in one year and a half – fragments which will provide those doubters and faithless those who are offended an instruction how to vote. It will be just demonstrative listing, rather accidental, nowhere near representative, without ambitions to answer that undeserved criticism of challengers. Opinion polls are one matter; the reality is the other one. The main figure, the most important success which is also a basis of all the other matters, is the stabilization of public finances. Thanks to our economic policy, we succeeded in decreasing the state budget down to 1,58% of GDP according to the methodology of the European Union. Plan of the Social Democratic Party was 3,4%. We expect to achieve 1,5% of GDP. We have stabilized public finances, we are decreasing the deficit and we are able to guarantee the balanced state budget in a medium-term time horizon. As the first government, we meet medium-term expenditure limits; as the first government we are observing the law. As early as in the first reform year, we decreased the tax burden by 1% in comparison with 2005, which means that 40 billion crowns more rest in wallets of citizens and in cashboxes of firms.

The unemployment rate dropped in March to 5,6% in comparison with 8% in 2005. It is even below 5% according to the methodology of the European Union. It is 1,7% annual decrease. It is the greatest annual decrease since the beginning of monitoring this unemployment rate, and it is thanks to the fact that based on stricter payment of social benefits people ceased to shy away of work. Authorities have registered the lowest number of unemployed persons since 1998. Number of jobs has been the highest since the beginning of monitoring – 151 000. We succeeded in decreasing number of sick leaves; we are European record holders in this sphere. The number of sick leaves dropped by 260 386 in the first quarter of this year in comparison with the same time period of 2007; it is by 27,9%. Sick leave expenditure dropped by 8,6% annually ,(from 7,9 to 7,2 billion crowns). In March it was even by 26,2% annually. It was not thanks to those first three days which are not paid; it was thanks to lower number of sick leaves.

Pensions will be extraordinary increased in August by 465 CZK on the average. The total increase starting from 1st January 2008 will amount to 811 CZK. Starting from September 2006 to September 2008, cost of living of pensioners will increase by 12,3%. The government will increase pensions by 17,5%. After valorisation by 3% as of 1st January 2009, the average real pensions will be the highest since November 1989. We are protecting patients from high cost of medicaments. At the end of the first quarter, the health insurance companies registered 200 beneficiaries who had reached the 5000 limit of spending; 98% of expenditures included in the limit formed extra charges for medicaments. The system of regulation charges operates well. In the first quarter of this year it was withdrawn in total 1,032 billion crowns which would remain in the health care sphere. Moreover, misuse of the health care was reduced. It is possible to transfer these economies, amounted to 2,619 billion crowns, to treatment of more seriously ill patients. In case of medicaments the economies amounted to 1,75 billion crowns; it meant drop by 20%. Number of ambulant specialists´ calls dropped by 28%. The average length of hospitalization was shortened by 9%.

We are implementing reforms in the justice sphere; the result will be demonstrated by long-term higher legal security of citizens. In spite of the fact that it is very complicated to quantify the sphere of justice, I can mention some concrete figure here. Up to 200 so called mini-teams are likely to be established at courts. Thanks to them, a judge will be able to save up to one working day a week and thus he/she will be able to be engaged in decision-making process, instead of paper work. Criminal proceedings in case of district courts were shortened by two month on the average. The performance of the justice sphere was increased by 10% in 2007. The length of appellate proceedings has been shortened. 85% of such cases are ended by three months. Quality, measured by number of appeals, is also increasing. We managed to increase number of employed prisoners over 60% last April and this number has not decreased since then. It has been achieved for the first time during the existence of the Czech Republic. We managed to solve the long-lasting problem of culprits of serious crimes who are permanently dangerous to the society because of insanities. In the Brno prison is prepared a detention facility for 50 culprits; it will start its operation as of January 2009.

Similar situation is in the sphere of the Police. Also in this case the reform result will be of long-term character. I will quote some figures. In total 55 police stations were renovated in 2007; this year it will be 131 and further 131 police stations will be renovated by the end of the election period. Thanks to recruitment campaign, 8000 applicants have applied for a job at the Police. It is not true that the police force is endangered by disintegration. The police will also obtain up to 3800 new cars and motorcycles for 1,5 billion crowns; thus the out of date car fleet will be renewed and higher-quality work will be enabled. In the framework of the programme of renovation and development of fire technology, 200 million crowns are earmarked every year for purchase of 40 fire engines for the Fire Rescue Brigade; after five years they will be transferred to voluntary fire brigades. The government provided a unique subsidy amounted to 300 million crowns for 33330 voluntary firemen in 5500 municipalities of the Czech Republic.

We are doing reform of the public administration. We are making it more effective, more flexible and friendlier to citizens. Reduction of unnecessary bureaucracy documents number of outputs of the CZECHPOINT Project, thank to which citizens can obtain copies of entries from official registers. In the first year of activity, citizens obtain 300 thousand of copies of entries; in less than a year. It meant 1400 involved and content municipalities. We are putting in order neglected transport infrastructure. Record-breaking 90 billion crowns are in the budget of the State Fund of the Transport Infrastructure this year. We will open to traffic 300 kilometres of motorways. We have increased the budget for ensuring basic transport services of railways by two billion crowns.

I am not going to waste time by a detailed description of what the government has managed to push through and implement. I have chosen only some figures. And I am not going to describe what is ahead of the government and what final figures the government wants to achieve. I wanted to show ability of our coalition to do not only cleaning after our predecessors and to take more or less forced measures, but mainly to demonstrate clear idea how to lead this country, how to prepare changes, which will give people security in case of need and prospects of high quality life. It will enable them to be proud of being Czechs and confident citizens; it will guarantee them life in a free country. Thank you for your attention.