Prague, June 25 (CTK) – Czech Social Democrats (CSSD) bought a five-million debt of lawyer Zdenek Altner, whom they themselves owe 338 million crowns under a recent court ruling, demanding his distraint, party’s lawyer Jiri Chvojka said on Saturday.
Chvojka said thanks to this, the Social Democrats would have a more advantageous position towards Altner.
Altner’s lawyer Vaclav Vesely said the Social Democrats’ steps were not supposed to have any major influence on further court proceedings.
Reacting to the latest developments, Altner told CTK that the CSSD was proceeding in an exceptionally vile way and by buying his debt, it ridiculed the law.
“The CSSD conduct has proven that it is the CSSD that has been making obstructions for 16 years, not heeding the law,” Altner said.
“It is absurd that a debtor owing 338 million is trying to impose a distraint on a creditor over five million crowns,” he added.
The Social Democrats could hardly afford such vile steps if they had not ensured beforehand the Supreme Court’s decision on the party’s recourse, Altner said.
Vesely said the five-million debt was only a partial claim the Social Democrats would probably include in their cause.
“For us, it has no influence,” Vesely said.
Earlier this year, the Prague Municipal Court ruled that the Social Democrats must pay 18.5 million to Altner for his services in the dispute about the party’s former seat plus a contractual fine of 318 million for a 5734-day delay.
However, the Social Democrats have refused to pay the money to Altner and have only sent it to Altner’s creditors. They also filed an appellate review with the Supreme Court. In early June, it postponed the enforceability of the earlier ruling.
