Svejnar candidature would represent conflict of interest, says Necas

Meanwhile, the minister of labour, Petr Necas, a Civic Democrat party colleague of President Klaus's, said if Jan Svejnar does stand it will be a copy-book example of conflict of interest. Since 2003 Mr Svejnar has been chairman of the supervisory board of CSOB bank, which is involved in a CZK 30-billion arbitration case with the Czech state. Speaking on a TV debate show, Mr Necas said he was very much shocked that anybody could consider Mr Svejnar as a serious candidate for president, adding that the economist should have quit his CSOB post some time ago if he planned to run for the post of head of state.