Prague, Aug 20 (CTK) – The Czech government must react to the information it received from the secret services about the case linked to the Czech Post (CP) state-run company, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka (Social Democrats, CSSD) told journalists yesterday, referring to the alleged demand of a bribe for the CSSD.
The suspected bribery is being discussed by the National Security Council (BRS) board now.
“As far as the situation around the CP is concerned, I simply would not like to repeat the mistake that the [previous Petr] Necas government made when it ignored the signals and information it received from the Czech intelligence services, and was incapable to react to them appropriately,” Sobotka said.
In this connection he mentioned the case of the Viktoriagruppe company, within which the Czech Republic has been prevented from handling its diesel oil reserves stored in Germany.
The CP scandal erupted last week when the media wrote that Kamil Choc, from the CSSD’s Central Bohemian organisation, demanded a bribe of three million crowns from businessman Lukas Cadek who has been suing the CP for more than 20 million crowns.
The bribe was to allegedly go to the CSSD coffers and to Chovanec, under whom the CP falls. Both the CSSD and Chovanec dismiss this.
According to some information, the case is linked to a tender for the supply of security services to the CP.
In reaction to the scandal, Chovanec initiated the meeting of the BRS board. He said a state-run company’s interests have been jeopardised and an attempt had been made to use the intelligence and security means to destabilise the situation at the Interior Ministry.
Many opposition as well as government coalition representatives criticise Chovanec’s explanation as insufficient. The RBS board should be convoked only in the cases of a serious security threat to the Czech Republic, they say.
