Janáčková’s fate to be decided by the Senate

Senators are divided over whether their colleague independent senator Liana Janáčková should be stripped of her immunity from prosecution in order to face charges of racism. The police say they have enough evidence to press charges after investigating a recording of Liana Janáčková made in 2005 when as mayor of Mariánské Hory she admitted to being a racist and suggested putting “Gypsies” behind an electric fence or blowing them up with dynamite. Senator Janáčková has tried to defend herself by saying that the statements were clearly exaggerated and made in the heat of an argument. Senators for the opposition Social Democrats want her to face prosecution but the ruling Civic Democrats, who have a majority in the Senate, are undecided.