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Corruption in the Czech Republic

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Corruption in the Czech Republic is considered to be widespread by a majority of the Czech public, according to Transparency International’s Global Corruption Barometer 2013.[1]

Corruption scandals and lax oversight drag Czechia down in global ranking in 2025. “The government of Prime Minister Petr Fiala cannot claim any significant success in fighting corruption. The passage of anti-corruption laws is frequently delayed or obstructed by members of the governing coalition,” said Ondřej Kopečný, head of TI Czechia.[2]

Transparency International's 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index scored the Czech Republic at 56 on a scale from 0 ("highly corrupt") to 100 ("very clean"). When ranked by score, the Czech Republic ranked 46th among the 180 countries in the Index, where the country ranked first is perceived to have the most honest public sector.[3] For comparison with regional scores, the highest score among Western European and European Union countries [Note 1] was 90, the average score was 64 and the lowest score was 41.[4] For comparison with worldwide scores, the best score was 90 (ranked 1), the average score was 43, and the worst score was 8 (ranked 180).[5]

Areas

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Political corruption

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A series of political corruption cases has damaged the image of Nečas’ administration (see corruption cases below), which is reflected in Transparency International's Global Corruption Barometer 2013, which reveals that 73% of the surveyed Czechs consider political parties to be “corrupt” or “extremely corrupt”.[1]

Business corruption

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In the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report 2013–2014, surveyed business executives cite corruption as the most problematic factor for doing business in the country.[6] According to Ernst & Young's 2012 Global Fraud Survey, 80% of surveyed companies perceive bribery and corruption to be widespread in the business sector, and fewer than 10% state that between 2009 and 2011 their companies “very frequently/always” conducted due diligence on fraud and corruption-related risks before or after acquiring a new business.[7]

Although the business environment is characterised by a clear set of rules and little interference, corruption remains an obstacle to doing business in public procurement, awarding of subsidies and direct interactions between public and private sectors.[8]

Corruption cases

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Miloslav Ludvík, former Motol University Hospital director who served as Minister of Health from 2016 to 2017, is now among 16 individuals charged with bribery and fraud linked to construction contracts valued at over CZK 4 billion, underscoring a serious crackdown on corruption in the country’s healthcare system.[9]

In Brno, several South Moravian officials have set up a well-functioning business to earn extra money on top of their salaries. Instead of punishing, officials helped road pirates from year 2022.[10]

In alleged EU-subsidies fraud, former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš was accused of illegally obtaining €2 million in EU subsidies designated for small businesses by concealing his ownership of a farm and a convention center called "Storks Nest" (Czech: Čapí hnízdo).[11] Czech police requested that the Lower House lift his parliamentary immunity on two occasions, in September and November 2017.[12] In both cases the Lower House lifted the immunity and the police have initiated criminal proceedings.[13] He is accused of the crime of alleged fraud (§212, Criminal Code, 2009) and of wilful damage to the financial interests of the European Union (§ 260, Criminal Code, 2009) in the criminal conspiracy (§ 89, Art.17, Crime Code (the Czechoslovakian Criminal Code, 1961).[14]

Operation Dozimetr was a police operation in June 2022 related to investigation of corruption at Prague City Hall linked primarily to Transport Enterprise of the Capital City of Prague [cs] (DPP). After more than two years of monitoring, the Police of the Czech Republic carried out a mass raid on the Prague City Hall, at the headquarters of the Transport Enterprises of the Capital City of Prague and at dozens of other places. Eleven of the thirteen defendants were arrested including the then Deputy Mayor of Prague Petr Hlubuček [cs] a member of Mayors and Independents or the influential Zlín businessman Michal Redl [cs] who is the alleged head of the group. The Group was accused, for example, for influencing the public contracts of the Transport Company of the Capital City of Prague (DPP), bribery and efforts to divest assets from DPP and other institutions.

A case in 2009 involved Defence Minister Vlasta Parkanová overpaying for four aeroplanes in a 3.5 billion crown military contract. As a Member of Parliament, Parkanová was immune from criminal prosecution however. Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek was also implicated in the case.[15]

In June 2012, a former director of the entity in charge of allocating EU funds in the Liberec and Usti and Labem regions was sentenced to 7.5 years imprisonment and a US$40,000 fine after being convicted of bribery in connection with the granting of EU funds.[16]

The 2013 Czech political corruption scandal involved an anti-corruption raid, launched by the organised crime unit. It resulted in the arrest of the prime minister's chief of staff, Jana Nagyová, and seven others. The unit also confiscated approximately GBR 5 million in cash and 10 kg of gold found in government offices, banks and private properties. The crimes are suspected to include bribery and abuse of power.[17]

There are many corruption cases related to railway company České dráhy.[18][19]

Enhancing Civil Society Participation

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Citizens participation and the values of integrity, accountability, and transparency are crucial components of fighting corruption. It is important to develop programs and actions to change the cultural understanding of corruption and help citizens to act against abuses.[20]

Police corruption

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This section is an excerpt from Police corruption § Czech Republic.[edit]

Police corruption in the Czech republic can be perceived in two categories: petty everyday corruption (e.g. bribery and favouritism), and major economic corruption, involving foreign investments requiring both state support and subsidy decision-making.[21]

Within these areas sections 158 – 162 detail forms of corruption ranging from abuse of power by a public official, to indirect bribery.[21] The Czech Republic joined the EU in May 2004, following the splitting of Czechoslovakia in 1993.[22] Since this split, corruption has made a steady incline. In 2001, 163 individuals were prosecuted with corrupt activity, of those 142 in relation to bribery.[21] This in comparison to the 110 individuals prosecuted in 2000. In 1995 the number of ascertained crimes committed by officers with involvement in management and administration was calculated at 1,081, by 1999 this figure had jumped 10.1% to 5,081, which steadily declined into the 2000s.[23] Royalties gained through major economic corruption are largely conspicuous. Tied up in ostentatious villas, over budget public construction projects and local government offices^. These "landmarks" are prominent enough to prompt guided tours around Prague.[24] Curious tourists are directed between structures funded through large sums of taxpayers' money. Money ending up in the pockets of civil servants and corrupt businessmen.[24]

In 1991 the "Service for the Protection of Economic Interests" was set up, this later evolved into the "Unit for Combating Corruption and Serious Economic Crime of the Criminal Police and Investigation Service" in January 2002. Its function: to detect connections between corruption and organised crime, in cooperation with the "Criminal Police Service and Investigation Unit of the Czech Police for Revealing Organised Crime".[25] Similarly the "Inspection Department of the Ministry of the Interior" (IDMI), a police unit that deals with offences committed by police officers. This unit targets petty everyday corruption, involving low-level employees of the state who abuse their power for personal gain.[25] Policemen earn a fraction the salary of a military officer.[26] Where the Fire Brigade has 14 districts within the Czech Republic, the Police force only has 8, resulting in limited opportunity for climbing regional ranks.[26] Policemen must also undergo far lengthier training than their better-paid Army and Fire Brigade colleagues.[26] Such inequities prompt feelings of resentment among Police ranks.[26] As a result, systems are now in place to combat petty corruption. Including automated cameras at traffic lights sending infringements directly to a driver, avoiding any physical interaction with a policing officer.[26] At the same time, "The Unit for Combating Corruption and Financial Crime" (UOKFK), established by the Ministry of the Interior, also provides continuing education relating to domestic corruption and integrity of the Czech police force.[27]

Police Corruption in the Czech Republic is an ongoing issue, however one that is actively combatted through state and local action.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom

References

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  1. ^ a b "Global Corruption Barometer 2013". Transparency International. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  2. ^ "Corruption scandals and lax oversight drag Czechia down in global ranking".
  3. ^ "The ABCs of the CPI: How the Corruption Perceptions Index is calculated". Transparency.org. 11 February 2025. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  4. ^ "CPI 2024 for Western Europe & EU: Leaders' hollow efforts cause worsening corruption levels". Transparency.org. 11 February 2025. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  5. ^ "Corruption Perceptions Index 2024: Czechia". Transparency.org. 11 February 2025. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  6. ^ "Global Competitiveness Report 2013-2014". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  7. ^ "Growing Beyond: a place for integrity 12th Global Fraud Survey" (PDF). Ernst & Young. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 January 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  8. ^ "National Integrity System Assessment 2011". Transparency International. 8 December 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  9. ^ Lazarová, Daniela (24 February 2025). "Head of Prague's Motol hospital dismissed following charges of bribery". Czech Radio. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  10. ^ "Nechceš se vybodovat? Zařídíme za 30 tisíc. Úředníci místo trestání podle policistů pomáhali pirátům silnic".
  11. ^ "Czech police ask parliament to allow prosecution of PM candidate Babis". Reuters. 10 August 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  12. ^ "Andrej Babis: Czech police seek to prosecute prospective PM for alleged fraud". Deutsche Welle. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  13. ^ "Živě: Poslanci vydali Babiše a Faltýnka policii. Absolutní nesmysl, brání se místopředseda ANO". Aktuálně.cz. 16 January 2018.
  14. ^ "Policie znovu žádá o vydání Babiše a Faltýnka. Systém se mě urputně snaží dostat, říká šéf ANO" [Czech police again seek to prosecute Babiš and Faltýnek] (in Czech).
  15. ^ "Czech corruption continued". The Economist. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  16. ^ "Human Rights Report 2012- Czech Republic". The US Department of State. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  17. ^ McDonald-Gibson, Charlotte (17 June 2013). "Czech PM Petr Necas to resign: 'Mr Clean Hands' to quit in effort to end political turmoil over aide spying and corruption scandal". The Independent. London. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  18. ^ "Soud rozdal tresty za manipulaci zakázek Českých drah. Policie případ odhalila díky odposlechům v kauze fotbalové korupce".
  19. ^ "Šéf z Českých drah odsouzen. V předchozí práci „poslal" peníze podvodníků".
  20. ^ "Increase in the number of civil complaints against acts of corruption. [Social Impact]. ALACs. Promotion of Participation and Citizenship in Europe through the "Advocacy and Legal Advice Centres (ALACs)" of Transparency International (2009-2012). Framework Programme 7 (FP7)". SIOR, Social Impact Open Repository.
  21. ^ a b c Fenyk, Jaroslav (2003). "Tchequie / Czech Republic". Revue Internationale de Droit Penal. 74 (1): 417–455. doi:10.3917/ridp.741.0417. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  22. ^ "Czech Republic". Europa.eu. Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  23. ^ Fenyk, Jaroslav (2003). "Tcheque / Czech Republic". Revue Internationale de Droit Penal. 74 (1): 417–455. doi:10.3917/ridp.741.0417.
  24. ^ a b Cameron, Rob (2 June 2014). "Corruption redefined as tourism in Czech Republic". BBC News.[permanent dead link]
  25. ^ a b "Tools and Resources for Anti-Corruption Knowledge (TRACK)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  26. ^ a b c d e Pike, John. "Czech Republic - Corruption". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 17 July 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  27. ^ "Anti-Corruption Authorities Profiles: Czech Republic". ACAuthroities.org.[permanent dead link]
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