Cunek biggest disappointment in 2007

An opinion poll conducted by the Median agency indicates that the biggest disappointment for Czechs in domestic politics in 2007 was the case of the former deputy prime minister Jiri Cunek. Mr. Cunek faced criminal prosecution over alledged bribery and refused to resign for months, leaving the cabinet only when it emerged that he was also suspected of having abused social benefits in the years before he entered high politics. The bribery case was closed for lack of evidence and investigators said that in the case of the social benefits – Mr. Cunek had not violated the law – and could at the most be accused of lack of ethics. Jiri Cunek’s attempt to return to Cabinet met with serious opposition from his party colleagues and although he remains head of one of the three governing parties – the Christian Democrats – his popularity rating has slumped. Thirty percent of respondents said he had serious character flaws and had abused his position.