News

In a public statement to the nation, Prime Minister Petr Necas said he saw no reason to resign from office in the wake of a police raid on the Office of the Government late Wednesday. The prime minister said his conscience was clear and he had seen no evidence implicating those of his associates who were detained in the night raid. He called on the police and State Attorney’s Office in Olomouc to clarify the reasons behind the extensive police operation in which several people were detained, among others the prime minister’s closest aide Jana Nagyova and the head of the Office of the Government Lubomir Poul. The prime minister said that from the information he had received in the course of the day it appeared that the case revolved around three rebel Civic Democrat MPs who were suspected of having accepted bribes in return for giving up their seats in Parliament.

The prime minister called an emergency meeting of the National Security Council on Thursday evening to debate the crisis.

A spokesman for the police’s organized crime unit on Thursday confirmed what he called an extensive police operation which he said was still underway and the fact that the police had made several arrests. He said the operation, involving hundreds of police officers, was being supervised by the State Attorney’s Office in Olomouc and all the steps undertaken were made within the bounds of the law. In view of the ongoing investigation he refused to provide further details.

According to the internet news site iDnes.cz the police have charged eight people in connection with the investigation. Police have refused to confirm the news saying more information will be released on Friday.

The news has evoked an outcry on the Czech political scene with the opposition demanding an explanation from the prime minister at a session of the lower house on Friday. Social Democrat leader Bohuslav Sobotka said the reports coming through were extremely grave and needed to be clarified as soon as possible. The party leadership will meet on Thursday to consider further action.

Czech Radio has issued a statement expressing disquiet over the Greek government's decision to halt the broadcasting of the country's public service television and radio stations. The Czech station said the Greek government should not threaten the human rights of freedom and the right to information for all, adding that the independence of public service media was one of the pillars of democracy.