Rath accusing Czech Social Democrats - John

Rath indicated in June that the money found on him mid-May may have been partially destined for funding the CSSD election campaign.

When speaking in parliament today, Rath refused to explain his statements about the funding of the CSSD election campaign that he made in his speech in the house in June.

He said he is not going to be "a useful idiot" of the current government and damage the leftist parties ahead of the October regional and Senate elections in which, he said, people should vote for non-government parties.

Rath was caught red-handed with seven million crowns in mid-May. It is thought to have been a bribe for the reconstruction of the Bustehrad chateau, central Bohemia. Rath has been in custody since then.

The Chamber of Deputies released Rath for criminal prosecution.

John, a member of the mandate and immunity committee, said Rath was bracing himself for a long legal battle and he was ready to appeal even to the European Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Social Democrat leader Bohuslav Sobotka has dismissed the notion that Rath's case was connected with the party financing in any way.

Sobotka said the party's financial management had been audited and the party submitted annual reports on it.

"The Social Democrats have nothing to keep in secret when it comes to their financial management," Sobotka said.

"Rath's case is not connected in any way with the CSSD's funding or the financing of our election campaign," he added.

The affair only relates to Rath and other people who were in the leadership of Central Bohemia, Sobotka said.

"I would say that as a prominent deputy he always knows something in his position," leader of TOP 09, Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said about Rath.

Prime Minister Petr Necas (Civic Democratic Party, ODS) has refused to comment on Rath's statement.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz