Kočí says Public Affairs resembles religious sect

Krystína Kočí, the former head of the Public Affairs deputies club in Parliament, who was expelled for “violating party ethics” after reporting to the police that Mr. Bárta had attempted to bribe her with half a million crowns, told Saturday’s Lidové Noviny that the party was run like a religious sect in which Mr. Bárta was a cult figure and unchallenged leader. Ms. Kočí said that Mr. Bárta ordered what was to be done down to the last detail, masterminding her appearances in the media as well as those of the official party leader, former TV journalist Radek John. She claims that it was Vit Bárta, not Radek John, who ran the Interior Ministry and that Radek John was little more than a mascot, a well- known TV personality who helped Mr. Barta win votes in the elections. Paradoxically, the Public Affairs party, established shortly before the elections, did unexpectedly well in them on a strong anti-corruption agenda.