Civic Democrat leader Mirek Topolánek defends himself over APC contract

Former prime minister and Civic Democrat leader Mirek Topolánek defended himself and the current Czech Defence Minister who have been caught up in a scandal over suspected corruption surrounding the purchase of armoured personnel carriers for the Czech army. Mr Topolánek said during a television debate on Sunday that he felt no personal responsibility for the 14.4 billion crown contract to purchase 107 APCs from the Austrian firm Steyr. Newspaper reports suggest two to three percent of that amount went to Czech politicians in kickbacks.

Former defence minister in Mr Topolánek’s centre-right coalition, Vlasta Parkanová, told Saturday’s edition of the daily Dnes that he had supported the deal from start to finish, adding that there was a great hurry to seal it. She added that Mr Topolánek wanted the then deputy minister from his party and current defence minister, Martin Barták, to deal with the dossier and she was sidelined. Mr Topolánek said Vlasta Parkanová did not have the courage to renegotiate the deal. Czech and Austrian police have launched investigations of the contract.