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Czech PM Petr Necas resigns over aide scandal | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas has resigned in an effort to end political turmoil over a corruption inquiry. | |
His governing coalition will try to form a new government led by someone nominated by his Civic Democratic Party (ODS). | |
Mr Necas announced he would quit after prosecutors charged his chief of staff with corruption and abuse of power. | Mr Necas announced he would quit after prosecutors charged his chief of staff with corruption and abuse of power. |
Two former MPs, an ex-minister and the current and former heads of military intelligence were also detained. | Two former MPs, an ex-minister and the current and former heads of military intelligence were also detained. |
All except one have been remanded in custody. | All except one have been remanded in custody. |
"Mr president, in line with the constitution... I resign," Mr Necas told President Milos Zeman on Monday. | |
President Zeman has asked Mr Necas to stay on as caretaker leader until a new administration is named. | |
Mr Zeman has said the charges, brought after armed police raids on government and private offices on Wednesday, were "serious". | |
Up to 150m koruna (£5m; $8m) in cash, tens of kilograms of gold and large quantities of documents were seized during the raids. | Up to 150m koruna (£5m; $8m) in cash, tens of kilograms of gold and large quantities of documents were seized during the raids. |
'Nothing dishonest' | 'Nothing dishonest' |
The prime minister's chief of staff, Jana Nagyova, is suspected of bribing the former MPs with offers of posts in state-owned firms. It is alleged this was in exchange for them giving up their parliamentary seats. | |
Ms Nagyova - a close colleague of Mr Necas for nearly a decade - is also suspected of illegally ordering military intelligence to spy on three people. | Ms Nagyova - a close colleague of Mr Necas for nearly a decade - is also suspected of illegally ordering military intelligence to spy on three people. |
Czech media reported that the targets included Mr Necas's wife, Radka Necasova. Mr Necas announced this week that they were divorcing. | Czech media reported that the targets included Mr Necas's wife, Radka Necasova. Mr Necas announced this week that they were divorcing. |
Mr Necas has rejected all the accusations against Ms Nagyova and the other five accused, saying: "I am personally convinced that I did not do anything dishonest and that my colleagues have not done anything dishonest either." | Mr Necas has rejected all the accusations against Ms Nagyova and the other five accused, saying: "I am personally convinced that I did not do anything dishonest and that my colleagues have not done anything dishonest either." |
The opposition Social Democrats had warned they would press for a no-confidence motion in parliament unless Mr Necas stepped down, and the two other parties in his centre-right coalition had signalled that they could no longer support him. | The opposition Social Democrats had warned they would press for a no-confidence motion in parliament unless Mr Necas stepped down, and the two other parties in his centre-right coalition had signalled that they could no longer support him. |
The prime minister said the coalition would try to form a new government, led by a different person, to rule until elections scheduled for June 2014. | |
Under the Czech constitution, President Zeman - a political rival - is under no obligation to respect the coalition's wishes, and could name his own candidate to head an interim government until early elections are held, | Under the Czech constitution, President Zeman - a political rival - is under no obligation to respect the coalition's wishes, and could name his own candidate to head an interim government until early elections are held, |
Mr Necas also said on Sunday he would resign as his party's chairman. | Mr Necas also said on Sunday he would resign as his party's chairman. |
"I am fully aware how the twists and turns of my personal life are burdening the Czech political scene and the Civic Democratic Party," he told the briefing. | "I am fully aware how the twists and turns of my personal life are burdening the Czech political scene and the Civic Democratic Party," he told the briefing. |
BBC Prague correspondent Rob Cameron says the admission is the closest the prime minister has come to confirming that the woman at the heart of this scandal - Ms Nagyova - is more than just a colleague. | BBC Prague correspondent Rob Cameron says the admission is the closest the prime minister has come to confirming that the woman at the heart of this scandal - Ms Nagyova - is more than just a colleague. |