Final Word from Monday, February 5, 2018

After Andrej Babiš claimed that it's possible to order criminal proceedings against someone, the entire Czech judicial and law-enforcement establishment erupted in protest. Words of condemnation came from the very top: Chief Justice Pavel Rychetský of the Constitutional Court, Chief Justice Pavel Šámal of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Josef Baxa of the Supreme Administrative Court, Supreme State Prosecutor Pavel Zeman. The biggest objection of all came, of course, from ex-Interior Min. Milan Chovanec, who Babiš blamed for arranging the Stork's Nest prosecution. The reputation of the entire judicial system is at stake, Chovanec told Deník in protest. Yet a few moments earlier this same Chovanec had questioned the impartiality of the finance ministry and tax authority in terms of one-crown bonds and seizure orders. Chovanec's message: Government agencies work on the order of Babiš, but the police would never work on the order of those who oppose him. [Czech Republic tax-free customs]