Czech PM Quits Over Aide's Corruption Arrest
Seven other senior figures - including military intelligence heads and politicians - are charged with corruption and other crimes.
6:54pm, Monday 17 June 2013
Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas announces his intention to resign
Aide Jana Nagyova is accused of corruption
The Czech Republic has been plunged into political turmoil after Prime Minister Petr Necas resigned over a corruption and spying scandal involving his top aide.
The crisis was sparked by the indictment of Mr Necas' chief of staff - and alleged lover - Jana Nagyova with bribery and complicity in the abuse of power.
Police accuse her of asking military spies to follow Mr Necas' estranged wife Radka. He said he was not aware of any surveillance.
The 48-year-old prime minister announced earlier last week that his marriage was over after 25 years.
Mr Necas formally tendered his resignation to left-wing rival President Milos Zeman - who requested that he stay on as a caretaker leader until a new administration is named, stressing that "the government should perform regular activities and not adopt strategic decisions".
Seven other senior figures in Necas' centre-right administration - including military intelligence heads and former lawmakers - have also been charged with corruption, among other alleged crimes.
A lawyer for Ms Nagyova, who is in custody, said she denies some of the allegations against her, while on others she says she acted in good faith.
"I am aware of my political responsibility," Mr Necas told reporters as he announced his intent to resign on Monday to members of his three-year-old minority coalition government, which has survived eight confidence votes.
The scandal erupted on Thursday when police raided the cabinet office, defence ministry, villas and a bank in a dramatic swoop which reportedly turned up large stashes of cash and gold.
An EU member state of 10.5 million people, the Czech Republic has been plagued by corruption since it emerged as an independent state after its 1993 split with Slovakia.
President Milos Zeman, who under the constitution has the power to decide on a new government or call snap elections.
Before the scandal erupted, Mr Zeman had said he would like general elections to be held together with EU elections on May 24-25 2014, to save the taxpayer money.
He has made it clear that he favours the left-wing Social Democrat opposition, which opinion polls show will win any snap election.
"Mr Necas' resignation means that the Czech ruling coalition is now attempting to muster a coalition to continue governing and avoid fresh elections," said William Jackson, an analyst with the London-based Capital Economic.
"Given that the coalition only held 100 of the 200 seats in parliament, and relied on independents to govern, there is a fair amount of uncertainty about the outcome," Mr Jackson said.
