Coalition partners waiting for news

The Civic Democratic Party’s coalition partners TOP 09 and LIDEM have been cautious in their response to the raids, saying they would issue official statements after obtaining more information on the case. At a press conference in Prague on Thursday night TOP 09 leader Karel Schwarzenberg said the country was now at a cross-roads: if the police operation is seen to be fully justified it would re-enforce democracy in the country, should the police and state attorney’s office fail to provide convincing evidence it would severely undermine trust in the country’s institutions.