Unions and STAN condemn Turek’s remarks about civil servants

Czech trade unions are demanding an apology from MP Filip Turek after he described state employees as “parasites”. Union leader Josef Středula said at the opening of a two-day congress of the Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions that such language has no place in politics.

Turek made the remarks at an event held by media organisation XTV last weekend, where he said his party was carrying out a “rat extermination” at four ministries it controls, referring to the removal of officials he described as progressive, leftist or green. Ministers from the junior coalition party have dismissed a number of officials since taking office earlier this year.

The Mayors and Independents party also criticised the comments. Its leader Vít Rakušan said Turek should be removed as government commissioner, warning that such rhetoric echoes language used by the Nazis.