LN: Political scene is steeped in dirt

Prague, July 10 (CTK) - Irrespective of how various criminal cases involving influential persons may develop, the fact is that there is dirt on the Czech political scene, Anna Durnova writes in daily Hospodarske noviny yesterday.

She writes that the dirt arises from a deep gap between those who are up and can phone one another or file appeals at their own discretion and those who are only watching the developments from below.

The dirt is nourished by the situation where acquaintances and power are more than principles and laws, Durnova writes.

She mentions a couple of controversial cases that have surfaced recently, such as the traffic incident of the influential Prague lobbyist Roman Janousek who knocked down and seriously injured a woman, and the siphoning off of assets in the privatisation of the Mostecka uhenla mining company by its managers.

"There is dirt on the Czech political scene irrespective of whether Lenka Bradacova or someone else becomes Pague high state attorney, or whether the Chamber of Deputies releases [former defence minister] Vlasta Parkanova [over the purchase of CASA planes for the military] for criminal prosecution," Durnova writes.

Czech politicians do not hesitate to present to citizens one absurd piece of news after another with unprecedented arrogance and cynicism, Durnova writes.

She writes that it is often said "this could not happen in the West."

This does not apply to corruption, favouritism and runaway corporativism, however. They exist in Austria, in France as well as in other European countries, Durnova writes.

She writes that democratic elections, unlike the democratic behaviour of society, are not evidently a guarantee of clean politics.

The difference between these two dimensions is apparent mainly when looking at Austria in which the Czechs could seek inspiration, Durnova writes.

It surfaced one and a half years ago that practically all political tops in Austria, with the exception of the Greens, were linked to strange deals, offers of briberies and various favouritism-based practices, Durnova writes.

The scandal of Eurofighters, whose purchase is still veiled in secrecy, keeps investigators alert also because of suspicious payments between the armament concern and lobbyist Mensdorff-Pouilly, Durnova writes.

She also mentions the dealings of MEP Strasser as another example of favouritism in Austria.

Strasser did not make difference between business and politics. Wehn he needed something, he knew whom to call to attain it, Durnova writes.

It seems as if this were a confirmation of the common roots of the Austrians and Czechs dating back a few centuries to the times of existence of the joint Austro-Hungarian monarchy, Durnova writes.

The Czechs should, however, continue to draw inspiration in Austria whose parliament set up last year a special committee of investigation that has been gradually looking into all scandals, of which the Austrian media have registered 35, Durnova writes.

It is painful, but things have eventually started moving, she adds.

If the administrative and political cultures of the Austrians and Czechs have the same roots, it would be worthwhile to set up a Czech parliamentary committee that might help clean Czech politics of the worst dirt at least and to moderate the above cynicism and arrogance that have become a new political doctrine in the Czech Republic, Durnova writes.