The Prague Post
December 5th, 2008
Prague Property

Sexual politics

The woman at the center of the prime minister's scandal tells her side

Accused of running a brothel, Libuse Barkova maintains her sense of humor in the face of a political firestorm.
By Dinah A. Spritzer
 Staff Writer, The Prague Post
April 21, 2005


Libuse Barkova, age 40, is an entrepreneur who for many years rented out a Prague apartment to the Escade brothel in Prague's Nusle neighborhood. She is also currently charged with an 8 million Kc ($347,826) insurance fraud.

Her friendship and business relationship with Prime Minister Stanislav Gross and his wife Sarka is one of two reasons — the other being his apartment-funding scandal — behind the current government crisis. Christian Democratic leader Miroslav Kalousek, along with the opposition Civic Democrats, called for Gross's resignation in February after the Czech press reported that Barkova was the guarantor of a loan to Sarka Grossova and that the two intended to develop a business complex in Prague 9.

Barkova has since sold the building where the brothel is housed, and she and Grossova have suspended all business activities. Barkova spoke with The Prague Post about brothels, business and her role in the collapse of Gross' government.



The Prague Post: How does it feel to be the woman who brought down the entire government?

Libuse Barkova: That's absolute nonsense. What's happening is more about certain politicians refusing to admit that they are not up to their job. They made a mistake and now they seek out that universal culprit, a woman.



"They made a mistake and now they seek that universal culprit: a woman."

Libuse Barkova,
friend of Grossova
TPP: Who made what mistakes?

LB: Our politicians cannot communicate with one another — there's a lot of vanity among them. It's very much confirmed by the fact that even if the initial problem they made a fuss over is gone, they still can't communicate.

TPP: You were renting out or running a brothel and you were the business partner of the prime minister's wife. Can't you see how people would find that objectionable?

LB: The [opposition] Civic Democrats, and all of the political parties, have representatives at city halls that own or rent property for the same purpose I do, and this has not led to a crisis. Look at Prague City Hall. Those flyers for strip shows and lesbian shows — City Hall property is being used for this purpose.

TPP: City Hall says that your claim is an outright lie.

LB: Maybe [Prague Mayor Pavel] Bem's and Civic Democrats' morality is so strong they don't know that City Hall property is being used for this purpose? If you look at the clubs on Wenceslas Square and see how they invite people in, like juveniles, it's unethical. It's making this country look like Thailand, and I object. This business should be discreet.

TPP: Aren't you being a hypocrite?

LB: Politicians are always waving the flag of morality, but the fact is that this business would not exist without clients. As long as the girls work there of their own free will, then I think this is a problem of the politicians and nobody else. This business has been around since the 13th century, maybe before, and there are more and more such businesses, although I don't know why — I am not a man. I do know that I have been cast as a universal villain, and next time I go to the business registry office, that's the title I am going to register under.

TPP: There's been a lot of evidence in the Czech press that you were running the Escade brothel, not just its landlord.

LB: Yeah, a porn filmmaker said he opened the door of the brothel and an attractive blonde let him in. That could be you. And a journalist who writes for erotic newspapers is telling people I am the club owner. This is the same guy who wanted to barter a story in return for services from the girls. I think that comments a bit on his credibility, don't you?

TPP: Still, you get revenue from a brothel. What do you tell your kids?

LB: If politicians are accusing me of doing something unpopular, they would also have to ask if the [energy company] CEZ doesn't also earn money this way because its supplies them [brothels] with energy; the same goes for the gas, water and telecommunication companies. But renting a property to this one place you keep talking about is not my only business.

TPP: What exactly is your business?

LB: Real estate development, summer camps, hotels, hostels, pensions, discos, beauty salons. Mostly buying real estate, renovating it and then selling or renting it. I have been working away at all this 16 hours a day for 12 years. I did not own my first apartment until I was 35. It's been a very long road. I haven't had time for a husband, I put everything into work and my three children, who I am not ashamed to say have three different fathers. And I never asked for a penny from them.

TPP: But you had time to strike up a friendship with Sarka Grossova?

LB: I've known her for about eight years. She's a good acquaintance. If we meet once a month, it's about having coffee the way women do — you don't talk business or politics. It's very difficult for me to find a friend. In a way I live a man's life, and few women would understand that I cannot talk with them about cooking or marriage problems. So Sarka is a good friend to talk to over a cup of coffee.

TPP: How did you meet?

LB: At my beauty salon.

TPP: You helped her buy real estate and get into business when Gross was an MP? She must have needed a lot of help since her previous job was the manager of the concession stand at Parliament.

LB: I had the idea that if a politician's wife would get involved with business, this would enrich the Czech business sector. She could learn about the conditions entrepreneurs face here, what the obstacles are from bureaucrats. The business atmosphere prevents one from succeeding. MPs maybe never learn about this. Maybe they don't want to know.

TPP: The other objection to you as an unsuitable associate of a prime minister or his wife is that you are being prosecuted on insurance fraud charges.

LB: That can happen to just about anybody in this country. That's not the main reason behind what is happening [to Gross], and I still don't know what the main reason is. I don't follow politics. I don't belong to any party.

TPP: Not just anybody falsely declares that a windstorm and floods ruined their property.

LB: I could comment on this if I had really been there, but I wasn't. But the timing of the prosecution is interesting, I mean, with all this happening in the government.

TPP: Are you saying somebody filed these claims on your behalf? You were framed?

LB: You are close to the truth. But my lawyer told me not to talk about the case.

TPP: After everything that's happened, are you still talking to Gross and his wife?

LB: Less than I used to. I think they have problems of their own.

TPP: Like what?

LB: You want a car to run over me? It's all political dirt that started two years ago. I was threatened by people, and I cannot say who, to stay away [from Gross and Grossova.] They are threatening him as well.

TPP: Do you feel sorry for him?

LB: I feel more that some light should be shed on this whole case, which would show that bringing him down like this was planned well in advance. But journalists are too comfortable with the picture they have and don't want to seek the truth.

— Dan Macek contributed to this report



Dinah A. Spritzer can be reached at dspritzer@praguepost.com




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