Interior minister praises controversial debt-collection system in Chomutov

Interior Minister Ivan Langer has come out in support of the mayor of Chomutov, who has recently implemented a controversial system of reclaiming debts from rent-defaulters by sending in bailiffs straight after benefits have been handed out. The Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Michael Kocáb has called Mayor Ivana Řápková’s system of debt collection ‘illegal’, and the practice has also received criticism from the ombudsman Otakar Motejl. But on Sunday, Mr Langer said that he considered the system to be ‘correct’ and said it was right that those who ‘sponge off the system’ were held to account. Mrs Řápková said that she appreciated the interior minister’s support and that she would continue with the current system of debt-collection.

Author: Rosie Johnston