Social Democrats slam Defense Ministry

The opposition Social Democrats say the Defense Ministry has violated the law by arranging to purchase four armoured vehicles without a public tender. The ministry said it had decided to arrange the purchase directly, because it urgently needed the armoured vehicles for Czech soldiers operating in Afghanistan. Shadow defense minister Petr Hulinsky said Defense Minister Parkanova should annul the 100 million crown contract with Iveco, or face suspicion of breach of trust. He said that making the purchase without a public tender was unethical, uneconomical and illegal.