Civic Democrats warn of possible attack on rival party leader

There is continuing controversy between the two main rivals in the upcoming general elections with regard to who is responsible for the aggressive tone of the election campaign. The right-wing Civic Democrats warned on Thursday that provocateurs posing as their supporters could launch a physical attack against Social Democrat leader Jiří Paroubek and his wife Petra at the close of the election campaign. A spokesman for the party said the Civic Democrats had heard disturbing rumors of a possible attack at their recent election rally. The Social Democrat leader countered that if that were the case it was their duty to report it to the police.

The Civic Democrats have distanced themselves from all forms of physical aggression at election rallies. The party has now filed a criminal complaint against the Social Democrat election leader, Jaroslav Tvrdík, for alleging that they were operating paid commandoes in the campaign. Ever since the recent physical attack on a senior Social Democrat leader, the party has been holding meeting with the public inside buildings in order to better guarantee security.