‘The end of an era?’

“Such a police operation has no parallel in Europe”, writes MF DNES after hundreds of policemen raided some of country’s most important institutions early in the morning on June 13, in what the daily calls “the biggest arrest of politicians, lobbyists and officials in Czech history”.

Among the detained are the closest aide and chief of staff of Prime Minister Petr Nečas, a former minister, a former MP, the current and former heads of military intelligence, a former deputy attorney general and others. Investigators are also looking at two lobbyists, currently abroad, who “controlled” all important public tenders in Prague. Although police have yet to disclose any further information, the investigation appears likely to follow two lines: political corruption that allowed the government to stay in power and public tender rigging at Prague City Hall.

In a brief public statement, Nečas declared that he will not resign and that his trust in his collaborators is unshaken. Opposition leaders called for early elections.

“What’s next: elections, a caretaker government, or will Nečas make it?”, ask the daily, noting that -

His government has seemed finished many times, but it always manages to survive. But now Nečas and his government are being hit by the most serious crisis in their existence. The opposition were not the only ones talking about the end of government yesterday.

As the organisation of new elections requires three fifths of parliamentary votes, it would require a consent of some government MPs.