Popular Civic Democrat leaves party

MP Jiří Pospíšil has quit the Civic Democratic Party, the former justice minister said in a statement on Thursday. The popular politician, who unsuccessfully ran for re-election as Civic Democrat deputy chair earlier this month, said he had lost the trust of party members and officials, adding that his departure would make the party more united. Mr Pospíšil, who said he would remain member of Parliament, is credited with untying the hands of prosecutors to investigate high-profile corruption cases, a move that many Civic Democrats believe hurt the party.