Nečas defends signing amnesty

In an interview for the news server iDnes on Wednesday, Prime Minister Petr Nečas defended the presidential amnesty and his role in the affair. Mr Nečas pointed out that it is a constitutional convention for the prime minister to sign a presidential amnesty in order to confirm its legality and the government’s responsibility to carry it out. But the initiative of the amnesty is the exclusive right of the president, the premier noted. He claims he could not refuse to sign the amnesty along with the president since it was within legal norms. Mr Nečas also denied rumors that his signature was a “trade” for President Klaus’ signing of the government tax reform package in December. The prime minister is set to offer the president an opportunity to address the issue of the amnesty in front of the parliament.