Politicians mostly praise Klaus's speech, Gross has reservations.

(From Czech News Agency)

(rewrites, adds further reactions)

PRAGUE, Jan 1 (CTK) - The chairmen of the parties in parliament their majority praised the New Year's speech President Vaclav Klaus traditionally made today.

Mirek Topolanek, chairman of the senior opposition Civic Democratic Party (ODS), of which Klaus is honorary chairman, said that it was a statesmanlike, good-quality and above-standard presidential speech.

The Prime Minister and acting chairman of the senior government Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD), Stanislav Gross, did not assess Klaus's speech in general, but said he does not agree with his criticism of public finance and the statement that no progress had been made in preparing health care and pensions reforms.

"We cannot do any breakthrough from day to day," Gross told journalists and added that "on the contrary we can be optimistic."

He said that his government has submitted within four months in office a draft concept of the pension reform, prepared a budget decreasing the pace of debt accruing, which parliament has passed, and it is fulfilling the convergence programme which is a condition for the introduction of the euro.