Czech press survey - October 2

Minister Drabek´s behaviour is an example of the bad habit of Czech politicians of reacting to unpleasant news by declaring that it is an attack that wants to harm them before the elections, Martin Weiss says in Lidove noviny (LN).

Is Drabek aware of what he is saying? Weiss asks.

He has accused of political manipulation no dark forces, but police officers and state attorneys, in other words, bodies for whose operation the government, of which Drabek is a member, is responsible, Weiss points out.

Does Drabek say that the police have got out of control? he asks.

The only other explanation is that Drabek believes the police should stop working before the elections.

Drabek said it is scandalous that the police provided no information to him on the case, within which they arrested Siska two weeks before the regional and Senate elections.

Weiss recalls that Drabek complained that the police have not told him anything on the criminal case.

Under the law, the police can only provide such information as not to threaten the investigation. As far as it is known, there is no exemption for reporting to the labour minister beforehand, Weiss writes with irony.

Czech police confirm that they do not fear politicians even after the dismissal of police president Petr Lessy, Martin Komarek says in Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD) in connection with the case of deputy labour minister Siska, suspected of bribery.

The reactions of politicians are incredible, which means expectable, Komarek writes.

He notes that Drabek complained about the police taking action against Siska two weeks ahead of the elections.

Well, the work of the anti-corruption police should have nothing to do with elections, Komarek says.

Or does Drabek believe that the police acts depending on the elections or that somebody controls the police? he asks.

Opposition Social Democrat (CSSD) leader Bohuslav Sobotka called on Drabek to leave over the arrest of his favourite subordinate Siska, Komarek recalls.

Very well - but why did not Sobotka call on CSSD regional governor Jana Vanhova to resign from her post after her deputy Pavel Kouda (CSSD) was taken into custody over suspected manipulations with EU subsidies several weeks ago? Komarek asks.

When detectives escorted Siska from the Labour Ministry, Siska dragged Drabek behind him, too, Jiri Leschtina writes in Hospodarske noviny (HN).

It will be impossible for Drabek to sever the rope between him and Siska, Leschtina says.

Drabek set up a firm along with Siska and he left it only before he joined the cabinet. This firm then changed its structure in such a way that its real owners cannot be named and it won a spectacular order from Drabek´s ministry, Leschtina writes.

What is the difference between infamous Ales Rebicek (Civic Democrats, ODS) who had to leave the post of transport minister a few years ago because he placed lucrative orders to his "former" company Viamont? Leschtina asks.

The only difference is that Rebicek was not so impertinent to name his business partner a deputy minister, Leschtina concludes.

kva/t

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz