08-12-2011

Czech Culture Minister Resigns

By FNE Staff

    PRAGUE: Jiri Besser, the Czech Minister of Culture, resigned from office on 8 December 2012. The prime minister accepted his resignation.

    Besser was accused of failing to report an investment in the U.S. In previous statements, he said the failure was a simple oversight. In his resignation, he said that he felt he was not supported by his political colleagues and that he had not been given a chance to explain the situation.

    Besser was a coinvestor in property with a private Czech citizen who had been convicted of corruption. Besser repeatedly stated that he was innocent of any hint or charges of corruption. According to Czech news reports, Besser's political party, TOP 09, had already begun looking for a replacement before Besser's resignation was announced.