Finance Minister denies corruption

Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek was questioned by the police on Thursday in connection with a case involving three former Civic Democratic MPs, who were allegedly offered seats on the boards of state-owned companies in exchange for giving up their mandates and allowing the government’s tax reforms to pass. Mr. Kalousek, who was questioned as a witness, told the police that he did not offer former MP Petr Tluchoř the post at the energy company ČEZ in exchange for political favors. The State Attorney has pressed charges of corruption against Mr. Tluchoř, as well as former MPs Marek Šnajdr, Ivan Fuksa and the prime minister’s chief of staff Jana Nagyová.