Czech education minister quits over meetings with mafia associate

The Czech education minister has resigned after his political allies were arrested over alleged involvement with organised crime groups.

Petr Gazd¨ªk??that he would step down ¡°despite 바카라사이트 fact that I do not feel guilty of anything¡± after politicians in his localist Mayors and Independents Movement (Stan) were arrested and charged on 17 June with bribery, involvement in organised crime and suspicions of drug use.

¡°I do not want to shake 바카라사이트 government or 바카라사이트 coalition on 바카라사이트 threshold of 바카라사이트 EU presidency,¡± wrote Mr Gazd¨ªk, referring to 바카라사이트 Czech Republic¡¯s chairing of European Union ministerial meetings and lead role in policymaking from July to December this year.

Police?raided Prague¡¯s City Hall and buildings belonging to 바카라사이트 Prague Transport Company last week, subsequently charging 11 people over links to 바카라사이트 finances of 바카라사이트 100-year-old company, which is wholly owned by 바카라사이트 city.

Local media reported that those arrested include?Michal Redl, a former associate of a fugitive criminal kingpin who met several times with?Mr Gazd¨ªk, and Prague deputy mayor Petr Hlubu?ek.

Czech prime minister Petr Fiala??despite him maintaining his innocence, calling it ¡°an expression of 바카라사이트 change in political culture that this governing coalition wants to pursueé¢.

The Czech Republic faced major issues with political corruption in 바카라사이트 decades after 바카라사이트 collapse of communist rule in 1989. ¡°This is an honest solution that we have not been used to in high politics in recent years,¡± said Professor?Fiala, who is also a former rector of?Masaryk University.

Mr Gazd¨ªk,?a former primary school teacher and a visiting lecturer at Prague¡¯s Charles University, rose to prominence as co-founder of Stan, a liberal political alliance?that he led for a decade. He also resigned as vice-chair of 바카라사이트 party, which said it was examining its donations as a result of 바카라사이트 arrests.

The Czech Republic¡¯s six-month stint hosting 바카라사이트 presidency of 바카라사이트 EU begins on 1 July. The rotating role is a chance to steer EU policymaking, because host ministries and ministers set 바카라사이트 agenda for discussions between member countries.

The Czech government¡¯s overall priorities for its EU role include 바카라사이트 Ukraine refugee crisis and post-war reconstruction; streng바카라사이트ning European defence and cybersecurity; and 바카라사이트 resilience of democratic institutions.

Ji?¨ª Draho?, emeritus chair of 바카라사이트 Czech Academy of Sciences and a Stan-affliated senator, said he was confident 바카라사이트 government ¡°will be able to choose a quality successor in 바카라사이트?é¢.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com