PM appreciates minister Drábek's decision to step down

Prague, Oct 3 (CTK) - Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas (Civic Democratic Party, ODS) fully respects and appreciates the decision of Labour and Social Affairs Minister Jaromir Drabek (TOP 09) to resign over the bribery scandal involving his deputy Vladimir Siska, Necas said Wednesday.

TOP 09 will select the new minister after a discussion inside the party, Finance Minister and TOP 09 deputy chairman Miroslav Kalousek has said.

"I consider Drabek's decision to resign a comprehensible result of the situation relating to Siska who was taken into custody over serious bribery suspicion," Necas said in his press release.

He said he fully respected Drabek's decision to assume political responsibility.

TOP 09 senior officials, including party leader Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, have appreciated Drabek's decision, too.

"I have to say that due to this, I highly esteem Drabek. I highly praise his decision," Schwarzenberg said, adding that Drabek personally was not to blame for anything in Siska's case.

By announcing his resignation, Drabek had assumed responsibility not only for his subordinates, but also for political ethic in the country, Kalousek said.

"I can only lament that certainly not everyone would behave so bravely in his situation," Kalousek said, adding that no one had forced Drabek to make the decision.

Kalousek said Drabek was not guilty in the Siska case at all and was fully supported by TOP 09.

On Monday, the police charged Siska and former IT department head Milan Hojer with bribery.

Siska was taken into custody earlier Wednesday, while Hojer is being prosecuted at liberty.

The scandal is related to the company OKsystem. If convicted, the two men can be sentenced up to six years in prison.

Deputy Prime Minister Karolina Peake (LIDEM) said Drabek's decision was politically responsible.

"It is a very serious case involving senior state officials. If he had decided differently, it would be untenable and it would have harmed the whole government," Peake said.