Prague - After more than a six-month absence in the government controversial politician Jiří Čunek (Christian Democrats - KDU ČSL) is coming back to the cabinet.
PM Mirek Topolánek (Civic Democrats) has asked president Václav Klaus to re-appoint him the Minister for Local Development.
"It [the appointment] will take place tomorrow," announced PM Topolánek. Čunek´s appointment will take place at Prague Castle at 11 am. Čunek will then be able to attend the end of the parliamentary session as the "new-old" minister for local development. The parliamentary session will among other things take decisions on the recognition of Kosovo independence and health laws.
Jiří Čunek promised that he would submit an audit of his property, which has prevented foreign minister Karel Schwarzenberg from resigning. The independent auditor will be selected by minister Schwarzenberg himself.
"I would not call it an audit but rather a control of what my family earned and how we handled the money," specified Jiří Čunek.
Aktuálně.cz wanted to know how detailed the audit is going to be.
"They can go for any detail they desire. I have no problem with the auditing. They audited my property history of 25 years but of course, they can go as far as the times when I was not involved in politics," said Jiří Čunek.
Audit to be made public?
According to the Greens´ leader Martin Bursík, the most positive news is the fact Karel Schwarzenberg remains in his position. Bursík also said he would like the audit results to be made public.
"That is up to Karel Schwarzenberg what he is going to do with these," added Čunek.
"I am no judge of Mr. Čunek. I simply believe that if a politician wants to enjoy public´s trust, everything has be made public," said foreign minister.
Jiří Čunek is coming back to retake the position of the minister for local development, which has been up until now vacant. But Jiří Čunek has in fact headed the office anyway.
Čunek resigned from his post last November when he was investigated by police in a corruption scandal in Vsetín.
The embattled KDU-ČSL leader was criticized by the US State Department, which has recently released its annual report on human rights practices across the world for his eviction of some 360 Roma families from Vsetín during his mayoral tenure.
Czech Television also brought a report on Jiří Čunek taking social allowances in the 1990s when he had more than 1 million CZK in his saving bank account.
