Supreme State Attorney Igor Stříž: I will not bow to pressure

The newly appointed Supreme State Attorney Igor Stříž on Tuesday outlined his priorities in office. He emphasized the need to maintain the full independence of state prosecutors and expressed the view that they should be selected in an open competition. He also said he would push ahead with the recodification of the legal order, the digitalization of the justice sector and a greater use of  alternative punishments. In reference to a statement made by his predecessor Pavel Zeman who said he had been pressured by the justice minister, Mr. Stříž said he would not bow to pressure from anyone.

The opposition parties have criticized his appointment on the grounds that he served as a state prosecutor for the military under the communist regime.