In the most popular reality television show going in the Czech Republic, Czech parliamentary MPs have stripped the ex-Central Bohemia governor David Rath of political immunity yesterday, despite his claims of innocence made before legislators. The populist nature of his diatribe yesterday suggested he was playing mainly for the TV cameras, knowing well he would not escape a full-fledged investigation. Rath was caught with CZK 7m in cash in a box he now claims he thought was full of bottles of wine. Somewhat confusingly, he’s said the money (that he thought was wine) was intended to help finance his party, the Social Democrats, in upcoming elections. It’s believed the bribe was in connection with an EU-funded reconstruction project in Central Bohemia. Police found another CZK 30m hidden in his home.
