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Former Czech Prime Minister Charged With Bribery Former Czech Prime Minister Charged With Bribery
(about 4 hours later)
PARIS — Petr Necas, the former prime minister of the Czech Republic forced to resign last summer over a corruption scandal, has been charged with bribery, the Czech media reported late Tuesday.PARIS — Petr Necas, the former prime minister of the Czech Republic forced to resign last summer over a corruption scandal, has been charged with bribery, the Czech media reported late Tuesday.
Mr. Necas, a churchgoing father of four, stepped down after his chief of staff, Jana Nagyova, was accused of using the country’s secret services to spy on his former wife, whom he has since divorced. Ms. Nagyova, who was having an affair with Mr. Necas at the time, has since married the former prime minister and taken the surname Necasova. Mr. Necas, a churchgoing father of four, stepped down after his chief of staff, Jana Nagyova, was accused of using the country’s secret services to spy on his wife, whom he has since divorced. Ms. Nagyova, who was having an affair with Mr. Necas at the time, has since married the former prime minister and taken the surname Necasova.
The Czech media reported that Mr. Necas had been charged with bribery for his alleged role in offering state posts to three former members of Parliament who had been rebelling against the previous government’s austerity program, in return for them leaving office. Prosecutors say the posts were offered by Mrs. Necasova with the tacit approval of the prime minister.The Czech media reported that Mr. Necas had been charged with bribery for his alleged role in offering state posts to three former members of Parliament who had been rebelling against the previous government’s austerity program, in return for them leaving office. Prosecutors say the posts were offered by Mrs. Necasova with the tacit approval of the prime minister.
Mr. Necas has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and has denied that there was any agreement. He has also repeatedly insisted that political agreements with members of Parliament are part of the daily thrust of politics and do not in any way constitute bribery.Mr. Necas has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and has denied that there was any agreement. He has also repeatedly insisted that political agreements with members of Parliament are part of the daily thrust of politics and do not in any way constitute bribery.
On Tuesday, he told Reflex.cz, the online version of the Czech magazine Reflex, that the charges were absurd and politically motivated. He told the magazine he believed charges had been drummed up against him by the head of an organized crime unit against whom he had pressed charges for releasing manipulated video images of Mrs. Necasova’s arrest. Police had released the video to prove that their arrest of Mrs. Necasova was in line with procedure. Mr. Necas also faulted the corruption investigation for needlessly destabilizing the political system and recklessly breaching the Czech Constitution.On Tuesday, he told Reflex.cz, the online version of the Czech magazine Reflex, that the charges were absurd and politically motivated. He told the magazine he believed charges had been drummed up against him by the head of an organized crime unit against whom he had pressed charges for releasing manipulated video images of Mrs. Necasova’s arrest. Police had released the video to prove that their arrest of Mrs. Necasova was in line with procedure. Mr. Necas also faulted the corruption investigation for needlessly destabilizing the political system and recklessly breaching the Czech Constitution.
The investigation of Mr. Necas is part of the most intensive anticorruption probe since the fall of Communism in 1989. The investigation shook the country, which has struggled to shrug off a culture of graft and corruption.The investigation of Mr. Necas is part of the most intensive anticorruption probe since the fall of Communism in 1989. The investigation shook the country, which has struggled to shrug off a culture of graft and corruption.
Marek Benda, a member of Parliament for Mr. Necas’s center-right Civic Democratic Party, told Czech television he believed the charge against Mr. Necas was a desperate attempt by the state prosecutor Ivo Istvan to justify a case that had produced dramatic arrests but few results.Marek Benda, a member of Parliament for Mr. Necas’s center-right Civic Democratic Party, told Czech television he believed the charge against Mr. Necas was a desperate attempt by the state prosecutor Ivo Istvan to justify a case that had produced dramatic arrests but few results.
Petr Fiala, chairman of the Civic Democratic Party, said in a phone interview from Prague, the Czech capital, that the case was unprecedented and the bribery charge was criminalizing what were political negotiations.Petr Fiala, chairman of the Civic Democratic Party, said in a phone interview from Prague, the Czech capital, that the case was unprecedented and the bribery charge was criminalizing what were political negotiations.
Last month a center-left coalition government was installed, ending a period of protracted political instability spurred by the corruption scandal. Leading officials in the new government have made the fight against corruption a priority.Last month a center-left coalition government was installed, ending a period of protracted political instability spurred by the corruption scandal. Leading officials in the new government have made the fight against corruption a priority.