Prague - TOP 09, a Czech government party, has always tried hard to present itself as conservative, honest and principled. This week it has found itself immersed in a new corruption scandal that erupted after police arrested First Deputy Labor Minister Vladimir Siska on bribery charges at the start of this week.
Labor Minister Jaromir Drabek, Siska's boss, is a member of TOP 09. After Siska's arrest, Drabek suspended him from his position for the time of the criminal proceeding.
The ministry's IT director Milan Hojer was detained alongside Siska.
The spokesman of the anti-corruption police unit, Jaroslav Ibehej, said to public Czech Television that the two men were arrested over a certain public contract, without giving any details.
Yesterday, Labor Minister Drabek announced at a special press conference that he would step down if his subordinate was found guilty.
"After nine years of intensive cooperation with Mr Siska, I am convinced that he has not committed any illegal actions. But if his guilt is proven, I am prepared to step down," said Drabek.
The TOP 09 leadership backed the minister's position. "I am convinced that we will stand behind him, and I am convinced of his innocence," said TOP 09 chairman and Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg.
Today, a Prague 2 court ordered Siska to be taken into custody in order to prevent him from influencing witnesses. Several hours later, Minister Drabek announced he will resign by October 31.
His successor has yet to be chosen.
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Anti-corruption cops raid Prague Transport Company HQ
The opposition Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) wants a special investigative committee and an audit into the Labor Ministry's contracts.
The chairman of the CSSD's parliamentary club, Jeronym Tejc, said that the Labor Ministry had spent CZK 2.4 billion on suspicious IT contracts.
