Wednesday News Briefing

The Czech government opposes the prospect of Britain leaving the European Union, Prime Minister Petr Necas said in reaction to PM David Cameron's address, in which he  promised a referendum on Britain's EU membership after British elections in 2015. Necas said the Czech government is interested in Britain being an active and key member of the EU integration process. He added he understands Cameron's stance.

President Vaclav Klaus's New Year amnesty is in contradiction with the Czech constitution, as it was not discussed with the government beforehand and the Constitutional Court (US) should abolish it as a whole, the Prague Municipal Court has ruled. Yesterday, the US received the Prague Municipal Court's proposal, which opposes the halting of certain criminal prosecutions, as condoned by the amnesties.

A Prague district court has acquitted MPs Vit Barta and Jaroslav Skarka of bribery charges. Barta, the de-facto leader of the disgraced Public Affairs (VV) party, had been accused of bribing his fellows party members in exchange for allegiance. Skarka, formerly a VV member, had been accused of accepting Barta's bribe. The court said Barta's actions were not criminal, and that Skarka's crimes could not be proven. The verdict is likely to be appealed, as the state attorney insists on the charges.

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