Friday, July 19, 2013

So that's that

Those readers who might have found the saga of the Czech Prime Minister of some interest (here, here and here) will, undoubtedly, be disappointed though possibly not surprised to find out that it is not going anywhere.

According to this detailed Wall Street Journal article
Earlier this month, prosecutors asked Parliament to lift immunity for Mr. Necas, as they investigated his role in the awarding of jobs at state enterprises to three former legislators allegedly in exchange for their help in passing a bill to raise taxes.

On Tuesday, the Czech Supreme Court ruled that the three former lawmakers and Mr. Necas couldn't be prosecuted since at the time of the alleged wrongdoing, they were legislators. The three former lawmakers were released from jail Tuesday night. They couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

In a news conference late Wednesday, Mr. Necas criticized the probe as "an absurd drama. It isn't an absurd comedy, but it's actually very serious, affecting actual people who ended up in prison during the investigation."

Lawyers for the MPs have previously said their clients did nothing wrong. Mr. Necas has also denied any wrongdoing and said the deal with the MPs was just normal political horse-trading, akin to offering an ambassadorship to a political ally.
Meanwhile the doubtfully appointed caretaker government may face opposition from the parliament but the lower house has voted not to dissolve itself and call an early election. They will somehow manage with the government they do not like and do not agree with, which was appointed over their heads by President Zeman.

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