Czech PM blames Kalousek for his phone call to investigator
09.07.2012 12:26
CeskeNoviny: Prague - Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas (Civic Democrats, ODS) on Monday blamed Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek (TOP 09) for his phone call to the investigator of the CASA planes and he warned the other ministers today that he would dismiss them for a similar step.
Kalousek said today he can understand that Necas would not like the ministers to communicate with provocateurs for the police. He added that the truth on his phone call would surface in a couple of weeks.
Kalousek called the investigator of the case of former defence minister Vlasta Parkanova (TOP 09) who is to be prosecuted over the purchase of CASA planes for the military.
Media reported that Kalousek had even threatened the detective, telling him that he would end with the police. Kalousek admitted he had called the investigator but he denied having threatened him.
Necas today also said he considered the whole affair with Kalousek closed by telling him that his behaviour was unacceptable.
"I talked to the minister (Kalousek) on Monday. I reproached him for his step and told him that it was unacceptable. At the same time, I informed all the government members that a similar case should not be repeated," Necas said.
Necas said he had strongly recommended to the ministers that they communicate with law enforcement bodies only officially, that is in writing or via e-mail.
If a similar case as Kalousek's phone call to the investigator repeated in the case of another government member, he would be dismissed, Necas stressed.
The opposition Social Democrats (CSSD) and some civic groups demanded Kalousek's dismissal over, what they say, Kalousek's unacceptable influencing the police work in the Parkanova case.
Police asked the Chamber of Deputies to release its deputy chairwoman Parkanova for prosecution over the purchase of CASA planes for the military that was allegedly overpriced by 658 million crowns. The police say Parkanova did not have an expert opinion on the planes' price worked out.
Kalousek is defending Parkanova saying she was not obliged to order na expert opinion on the CASAs.