Czech president does not regret having declared amnesty - server

"I am convinced that it was the right decision and it will become apparent after some time when hotheads calm down," Klaus told the server.

He dismissed the speculation saying the amnesty was to help concrete persons prosecuted in closely watched cases. He said such speculation offended him.

Klaus announced the partial amnesty in his New Year's speech on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Czech Republic.

It applies to convicts with low suspended or prison sentences, elderly convicts and also suspects whose criminal proceedings have lasted for more than eight years. The prosecution is halted if the maximum prison sentence that can be imposed in such cases does not exceed ten years.

The amnesty has been sharply criticised mainly because it halts the criminal proceedings in some closely watched cases of financial crime and corruption.

A group of senators is to lodge a proposal for the abolition of part of the amnesty that that applies to long-term prosecution with the Constitutional Court next week.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz