De-facto leader of Public Affairs stands trial for corruption

The junior coalition party Public Affairs, which won seats in Parliament on a strong-anti-corruption agenda, is facing a major test of its credibility. The party’s de facto leader, former transport minister and present head of the party’s parliamentary group in the lower house Vít Bárta is standing trial on charges of corruption. The court hearings which began on Monday will hear testimony from ministers and MPs and the outcome of the much anticipated trial could shake the party in its foundations.

Vít Bárta, photo: CTK

The Prague 5 district court which is dealing with the highly anticipated court case was besieged by journalists since the early hours of Monday. The central figure in the case –former head of the ABL security firm Vít Bárta –is widely seen as the party’s de-facto leader: the man who financed it, masterminded its success in the 2010 general elections and who rules it with an iron hand to this day. Although Mr. Bárta was forced to step down as transport minister after two party members accused him of having bought their loyalty with large sums of money, the party has kept him in a high profile position to this day.

The Public Affairs multi-millionaire who promised voters to sweep out widespread corruption is suspected of bribing at least two now- former party members, Kristýna Kočí and Jaroslav Škárka to whom he handed over large sums of money in cash. Although Vít Bárta does not deny this he says the money –for which he did not even request a slip –was given as a loan to people whom he considered to be close friends. Now he says his name was tarnished by rebels who were planning a party putsch and he welcomes the chance to clear his name in court:

Jaroslav Škárka, photo: CTK

“I said from the moment that these allegations surfaced that the only way to clear my name would be in court. I am looking forward to the trial and hope the state attorney does not prolong matters so that the trial can begin as soon as possible.”

His former party colleagues Kristýna Kočí and Jaroslav Škárka, who claim that Barta runs the party with an iron hand and treats members as puppets, are equally determined to make the truth known. Jaroslav Škárka, who himself is to be tried for having spent part of the money which he allegedly received as a bribe and reporting it late, says the party has a unique opportunity to cleanse itself.

“Party members testifying here have a unique opportunity to tell the truth and by doing so to cleanse the party and themselves of the dubious practices that are being implemented in it.”

Among those who will be taking the stand as witnesses are ministers and MPs. Deputy Prime Minister Karolina Peake, one of the party’s leading lights, who paradoxically manages the government’s anti-corruption portfolio, will also be present at the trial. She says it is important to keep the case in the right perspective:

Radek John, Karolína Peake

“It is not the Public Affairs Party which is on trial here –as some have tried to present the case. This is a dispute between three people, which has ended up in court.”

Although the party’s official head Radek John has also welcomed the trial as the only way to end months of speculation about alleged power practices within the party, it is clear that the negative publicity surrounding this court case will deliver another blow to the party’s already flagging public trust.