Petka

The Petka or Committee of Five was an unofficial, semi-constitutional political institution designed to cope with political difficulties during the First Republic of Czechoslovakia. It was founded in September 1920 and was made up of a council of leaders of the coalition parties that made up the Czechoslovak government at that time.

The Establishment of the Petka

The Petka was founded in 1920 to provide guidance to the weak cabinet of Jan Černý, which is said to have “resembled a ventriloquist’s dummy: it had no political will or voice of its own”Victor S. Mamatey, “The Development of Czechoslovak Democracy, 1920-1938”, in Victor S. Mamatey and Radomir Luza, A History of the Czechoslovak Republic, 1918-1948, Princeton University Press, 1973, pg 108. ] . At the time the Petka was formed, Czechoslovakia was recovering from the First World War and dealing with the problems it faced as a new state in post-war Europe. The first President of Czechoslovakia, Tomáš Masaryk saw the new Europe as “a laboratory built over the graveyard of the world war, a laboratory that needs the work of all” [Translation by Karel Capek, President Masaryk Tells his Story, New York G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1935. pg 299.] . In this post-war Europe, Masaryk “recognised that his people still lacked the necessary experience and forbearance necessary for parliamentary government”Victor Cohen, The Life and Times of Masaryk, London John Murray Albemarle Street, 1941, pg 237.] and knew a non-traditional political institution would be need to maintain control. In order to govern Czechoslovakia it would have been easier for Masaryk to rule as a dictator, however, this was against his democratic ideals. Instead, he acted boldly if not constitutionally, and formed a government of experts, the Petka, in September 1920. In his autobiography, Masaryk states how anxious he was “to ensure the expert elements of the administration and Government” [Translation by Karel Capek, President Masaryk Tells his Story, New York G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1935. pg 292] . The five representative experts and their political parties were: Antonin Svehla (Agrarian Party), Alois Radin (National Democratic Party), Rudolf Bechyne (Social Democratic Party), Jiří Stříbrný (Czechoslovak National Socialist Party) and Jan Sramek (Populist Party). The main force behind the Petka was Antonin Svehla who was to serve as Czechoslovakia’s prime minister between 1922-192 and wield much influence over the government.

The Aims of the Petka

The Petka was designed to make up for the lack of “political voice” of the Černý cabinet. The leaders of the five main political parties met at regular intervals to provide direction to the cabinet and advise the prime ministerR. J. Crampton, Eastern Europe in the Twentieth Century – And After, New York: Routledge, 1997. pg 63.] . Each of the five members worked on the principle of “We have agreed that we will agree” [Ibid. pg 63] . The Petka ensured all major disputes took place out of the public eye, and the government maintained a united front for public consumption [http://www.geohistory.com/GeoHistory/GHMaps/GeoWorld/czhek.html] . The rigid party discipline that characterised the Czechoslovak political system enabled the Petka representatives to control each of their party's members in the Assembly and they were thereby in a position to control the cabinet [William Diamond, Czechoslovakia Between East and West, London Stevens & Sons Limited, 1947, pg 24] . In fact, the Petka has been described as “the real government of the country” .

Achievements of the Petka

The Petka helped keep under control the economic crisis that sparked hyperinflation across Europe between 1922-23. In 1924, the Petka directed the National Assembly to pass a National Insurance Law. This law created a social welfare system, which is described as being one of the most progressive in the world at that time [Victor S. Mamatey, “The Development of Czechoslovak Democracy, 1920-1938”, in Victor S. Mamatey and Radomir Luza, A History of the Czechoslovak Republic, 1918-1948, Princeton University Press, 1973, pg 127.] . The longevity of the Petka proved that it was useful in maintaining the stability of the First Republic of Czechoslovakia. The stability of the Czechoslovak regime during the inter-war period must be attributed, at least in part, to the Petka. This is because the Petka followed a moderate course that was acceptable to a majority of the chamber of deputies and thus prevented a cabinet crisis at times of social unrest. The Petka provided discipline to the National Assembly and enabled it to reach compromises that ensured stability in Czechoslovakia.

Czechoslovakia stands out among other Eastern European countries during the inter-war period because of its stability. Many other countries in Eastern Europe fell under dictatorships, experienced prolonged instability or fell under the control of extreme Left or Right wing parties. Through the entire inter-war period in Czechoslovakia, the Left never dominated a cabinet, the Communists never participated in a government and the coalition in power was never faced with an organised opposition bloc of opponent parties capable of assuming office itself. The existence of the Petka enabled Czechoslovakia to be described as being “internally stable and externally respected” [Ibid. pg 240.] .

Criticisms of the Petka

The Petka faced criticism for being unconstitutional and undemocratic. Even Masaryk himself acknowledged the Petka was not entirely democratic, when in a 1925 speech he said:

"I am a convinced democrat and I accept the inherent difficulties of democracy. Our difficulties arise from the high demands of democracy, which requires a body of citizens who are truly educated in the political sense, and an intelligent electorate, both men and women. Hence I am not in favour of government by experts or officials. Of course we have already had two Cabinets of Officials (the Petka) . What does that signify? It means that for us the transition from monarchism to democracy is a difficult one. Problems, however, are solved by people who think and possess knowledge, and are not merely elected."

The End of the Petka

When it was founded, it was thought the Petka would last only briefly. However, “the provisional often proves lasting” and the Committee of Five was to last in some form or another until the end of the First Republic of Czechoslovakia. With the dissolution of the Petka, came the end of discipline in the coalition. Czech and Slovak politicians began to argue and long-suppressed conflicts were soon exposed.

See also

First Republic of Czechoslovakia

Notes

References

៛ Victor S. Mamatey, “The Development of Czechoslovak Democracy, 1920-1938”, in Victor S. Mamatey and Radomir Luza, "A History of the Czechoslovak Republic, 1918-1948", Princeton University Press, 1973.

៛ Translation by Karel Capek, "President Masaryk Tells His Story", New York G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1935.

៛ Victor Cohen, "The Life and Times of Masaryk", London John Murray Albemarle Street, 1941.

៛ R. J. Crampton, "Eastern Europe in the Twentieth Century – And After", New York: Routledge, 1997.

៛ http://www.geohistory.com/GeoHistory/GHMaps/GeoWorld/czhek.html

៛ William Diamond, "Czechoslovakia Between East and West", London Stevens & Sons Limited, 1947.

External links

* http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/history/undergrad/modules/hi124/seminars/wk3lec2/