Czech ministers distances himself from extremists' support

Deputy Prime Minister and Christian Democrat (KDU-CSL) chairman Jiri Cunek today distanced himself from the support that representatives of neo-Nazi, xenophobic and ultra-right forces expressed to him for his position on Romanies.

"My behaviour has never had racist or xenophobic motives. On the contrary, I have always sought an equal approach to all," Cunek says in a press statement.

Cunek recently spoke about Romanies as about "sunburnt people who make mess with their family and put up fires in the square."

For months, Cunek has faced criticism over his decision, in his former capacity as mayor of Vsetin, north Moravia, to evict dozens of Romany families from a dilapidating house to container-like flats on the town outskirts and some even to other Moravian regions.

Romany activists, the opposition and the junior governing Green Party want him to leave the government.

According to neo-Nazis, Cunek is the only politician who is not afraid of expressing his views on Romanies and accompanies his statements by deeds.

Several supporters of the ultra-right National Party, including its chairwoman Petra Edelmannova, attended a Romany demonstration of protest against Cunek’s position that was staged outside the Government Office on Wednesday.

According to this party, Romany protests are "outrageous Gypsy arrogance and stubbornness."

The National Party is considering holding a demonstration in support of Cunek.

"Cunek openly said what we have been saying for a long time," Edelmannova said, adding that Czech society "resented Romany style of life and the fact that they live to the detriment of the system."

The daily Pravo has recently quoted other representatives of extremist parties and people who openly promote fascism as saying that they like Cunek’s performance in top policy and his statements concerning Romanies.

"He has my full support. He entered politics with his uncompromising position, he names things with their proper names and he accompanies his statements with deeds. That is why he has become inconvenient for some people. His corruption scandal is an expedient matter," far-right activist Jan Kopal said.

Police have accused Cunek, who is also local development minister and senator, of taking a half-million-crown bribe in 2002 when he was mayor of Vsetin.

However, Cunek pleads innocent and he has refused to step down from the government posts and the KDU-CSL helm. The Christian Democrats have so far backed him up.

Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek (Civic Democrats, ODS) has made it clear that he will not force Cunek to resign.