Senate slams Ombudsman for prejudiced remarks

The Senate has publicly criticized Ombudsman Stanislav Křeček for making “prejudiced and xenophobic remarks” about certain groups of society. A resolution, passed by 25 out of 45 Senators present, calls on the Ombudsman to act “justly and impartially” in accordance with his office, saying that his remarks may put off discriminated persons from speaking out in their own defense. Mr. Křeček has in the past been criticized for anti-Roma statements, for instance when he expressed the view that Romanies did not have a problem finding accommodation because of discrimination but because they quickly destroyed the flats they were given. The Ombudsman rejected the criticism as an attack on his right to free speech.