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.