Nečas tells Kalousek to tone down Parkanová rhetoric

Prime Minister Nečas has asked Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek to tone down his rhetoric regarding the charges against former defence minister Vlasta Parkanová. Kalousek has fiercely defended his fellow party member against police accusations that she improperly handled the purchase of four Spanish CASA transport planes for the army via an intermediary. Kalousek in turn has been strongly criticised for comments made at the weekend that the charges against her amounted to a police attack on democracy and the decision-making mechanisms of the state. Mr Nečas said he sees no threat of a police state, as minister Kalousek suggested, and said it was necessary to be more moderate in handling the issue.