Topolanek says Cunek will remain in office despite bribery charges

Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek has said that the Christian Democrat deputy prime minister Jiri Cunek will remain in office despite being charged by police for taking bribes. Police have charged the Christian Democrat leader with receiving money from a building company when he was mayor of the town of Vsetin five years ago. The opposition Social Democrats have criticised the prime minister for not dismissing Mr Cunek. Prime Minister Topolanek said that Mr Cunek should be allowed to try and clear his name before any further action is taken against him. Meanwhile, in a separate development, Petr Hurta, the head of the building company at the centre of the Cunek case has also been arrested in connection with the case.