Dienstbier criticises John's ties to media magnate

Prague, Nov 1 (CTK) - Jiri Dienstbier, Czech opposition Social Democrats' (CSSD) candidate for president, said yesterday Public Affairs (VV) MP Radek John's acceptance of a job offered to him by media magnate Jaromir Soukup is scandalous, and he also lashed out at rival candidate Jan Fischer's links to Soukup.

Dienstbier, who is a senator and CSSD deputy chairman, told CTK that John has "scandalously" accepted a job in Soukup-owned media in addition to his post of a deputy.

Everybody should feel worried about Soukup's activities, Dienstbier said, adding that Soukup is trying to gain political influence.

Another candidate for the presidential post, former caretaker prime minister Jan Fischer, should reveal his cooperation with Soukup as well, Dienstbier said.

In reaction to him, Fischer told CTK that Dienstbier is seeking problems where no problems exist.

Soukup cooperates with Fischer on his campaign ahead of the January 11-12 direct presidential polls. He also owns the TV Barrandov station, for which John, a deputy for the opposition VV and outgoing VV chairman, has started to work.

Fischer, along with former CSSD PM Milos Zeman, both independent candidates, are the presidential election's favourite, according to public opinion polls.

"The time has come for Jan Fischer to finally credibly explain the kind of his cooperation with Soukup. I don't know how Fischer wants to fulfil his promise to promote changes in Czech politics in a situation where he is closely surrounded by groups of people who are trying to control it [politics] and who destroy citizens' trust in democracy," Dienstbier said.

Like in the case of Radek John, who, in spite of being a top elected official, has scandalously nodded to working for Soukup-owned media, the figure of Jaromir Soukup is emerging again in connection with Fischer, Dienstbier said.

In the past few years, Soukup "clearly showed that he wants to become a crucial player on the Czech political scene," he added.

Fischer said Dienstbier has chosen an aggressive style of campaigning. "He is seeking problems where no problems exist, to which I wouldn't contribute," Fischer told CTK.

On Wednesday, John unexpectedly announced that he does not want to head the VV any more and is starting to work in Soukup's company. He is to prepare a current affairs programme for Soukup's TV station.

John's VV was a junior partner in the present Czech government from its establishment in 2010 to this spring when it was ousted by the government partners. John is the Chamber of Deputies' security committee chairman.