Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Czech PM to quit over graft and spying scandal

Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas is to resign today over a corruption and spying scandal involving his closest aid. Although he has denied any involvement, his coalition partners have pulled their support.
The ruling coalition will now try to form a new government led by someone nominated by Necas’s own Civic Democratic Party (ODS)
“I’ve been following the political developments which began last Wednesday and I know full well what the consequences are for me. That’s why I have announced to the Civic Democratic Party management and also to our coalition partners that I will step down as prime minister,” said Petr Necas.
Pressure had been growing on Necas since his chief of staff, Jana Nagyova was charged with bribing members of parliament and ordering intelligence agents to spy on several people. One of the targets was Necas’s own wife who is divorcing him.
Police who raided government and private offices last week have also detained two former MPs, an ex-minister and the current and former heads of military intelligence.

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