Cunek, head of the junior ruling Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL), was accused of corruption in spring 2007 but his prosecution was later halted under unusual circumstances, with much of his financial deals remaining unclear. A few months ago, Schwarzenberg (for the Greens) had an audit of Cunek's family property worked out by the U.S.
company Kroll. Opletalova told CTK that given Czech Foreign Minister to resign if parliament rejects U.S. radar ...
Czech coalition MP calls for supreme attorney's replacement ...
Czech Foreign Minister optimistic about ratification of EU treaty ... the Czech visit by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday, Schwarzenberg has had no time to study the audit results and he would do so in the days to come. "He will inform Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek about [the audit] results first. I don't know when," Opletalova said. She said if Schwarzenberg wanted to give the information to Topolanek this week, he would have to do so by Saturday, as on Sunday Schwarzenberg leaves for a two-day visit to France. Schwarzenberg received the audit results from Kroll a week ago. He said he would study it after he and Rice sign the treaty on the installation of a U.S. missile defence radar on Czech soil. The treaty was signed during Rice's Prague visit on Tuesday. Schwarzenberg previously said he does not like it that Cunek, who resigned over his corruption accusations last autumn, returned to the government this spring without convincingly and thoroughly dispelling all suspicions of corruption. Cunek's comeback was also resented by other ministers for the Green party, of whom there are four, including Schwarzenberg, in the 18-seat cabinet. In April, Schwarzenberg and Topolanek (Civic Democrats, ODS) agreed that Cunek can rejoin the government on condition that his finances are checked by an auditor chosen and paid by Schwarzenberg. Citing behind-the-scenes sources and some officials, the daily Lidove noviny (LN) wrote on Monday that Schwarzenberg might really resign. "It is very probable that the minister will resign. This is an open secret. [Greens] chairman Martin Bursik has tried to persuade him to think twice the step," Greens deputy chairwoman Dana Kuchtova told LN. Opposition Social Democrat (CSSD) shadow foreign minister Lubomir Zaoralek, too, said he has heard about Schwarzenberg's intention to resign. "I've heard it from people around Mr Schwarzenberg..., from reliable sources. There will reportedly be an opportunity [for his resignation] after the Czech-U.S. treaty is signed," the daily quoted Zaoralek as saying. Behind-the-scene sources said another reason for Schwarzenberg, 70, to leave is his health. A few weeks ago, he underwent a heart surgery, LN wrote. Speaking off the record, officials gave the names of Schwarzenberg's possible successors, such as Michael Zantovsky, former Czech ambassador to the USA and current ambassador to Israel. Evidently amused by Lidove noviny's question, Zantovsky told the daily that no one has offered the post of minister to him.
(Ceske Noviny)
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