Czech police to protect Social Democrats against egg attacks

The CSSD again accused the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) of the attack today, which was denied by the party. ODS leader Mirek Topolanek said he expected the Social Democrats to make its campaign before the European Parliament elections even more assertive.

"Czech police will pay an increased attention to the events of this type within their routine duties," Bednarcikova said, adding that the police was reacting to a request from the CSSD that they should have order at the rallies observed.

The CSSD has asked Prime Minister Jan Fischer and Interior Minister Martin Pecina for the protection of its election rallies to prevent the escalation of incidents starting with eggs being thrown at the party leader, CSSD deputy head Lubomir Zaoralek said today.

Fischer's spokesman Roman Prorok told Radio Impuls that Fischer is ready to deal with the CSSD's request.

The Social Democrats will organise a big rally in Prague on Wednesday.

Zaoralek said the CSSD wanted to avoid vulgarity and violence.

In the past few days, mainly young people have thrown eggs at Paroubek when he was campaigning in several Czech towns ahead of the EP elections to be held on June 5-6.

The CSSD said today that as the organiser of its rallies it had the duty to provide for order there.

The CSSD has come under the criticism for having allegedly hired bodyguards who sharply intervened against the protesters at some rallies.

The media today quoted lawyers who say that only police, not security agencies had the power to do so.

CSSD official Petr Benda said not bodyguards, but members of a local party branch, former sportsmen, had intervened against the protesters.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz