Stanislav Gross
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Stanislav Gross (born October 30, 1969 in Prague) is Czech politician, member of Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) . He served as minister of the interior (2000 - 2004) and as prime minister of the Czech Republic (2004 - 2005).
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Early political career
Gross shortly worked for the state railways company (České dráhy) as an engine-driver trainee. After Velvet Revolution in 1989 he become member of the Social Democratic party and in 1992 member of the parliament. After studies of law in 1993 - 1999 he obtained academic title, although under less than usual conditions.
Minister of interior
On April 5, 2000 he was named interior minister in the government of Miloš Zeman. After elections in 2002 Gross continued as interior minister and become deputy prime minister in government of Vladimír Špidla.
During his service several scandals in the police had leaked out: corruption among highest officials, irregularities in business tenders, failure to solve serial murder. Gross claimed this is due to better ability to discover such behaviour within police force. Gross was also criticized for installing his friends and allies as executives in state owned companies and for misuse of secret services for political aims.
In spite of these problems Gross was able to maintain higher popularity than other politicians (its peak was over 70%). His youthfull, photogenic appearance, skill in dealing with with media and unvillingness to get involved in controversial decisions or discussions helped.
Prime minister
In the 2004 EP Election ČSSD lost badly and the popularity of the party was low: this led to resignation of Špidla on July 26, Gross was appointed prime minister on August 4, 2004 and his government on August 24.
Gross was seen by his party as the last way to regain popularity and handle better future elections. This had shown wrong: in elections into regional assembly and Senate elections Social Democrats failed again.
His popularity started to decline and involvement in new scandals (taking people from former communist secret service as coworkers, another vawe of corruption in police, suspicions in privatization of state companies) sped the decline.
Gross claimed he will modernize the party similar to Tony Blair's recipe but short time in service and constant involvement with scandals didn't gave him any time to implement any changes.
Scandal
Since January 2005 Gross has been facing a scandal related to unclear origins of the loan to buy his flat. It was found that his wife has business association with a brothel owner, suspected of insurance fraud and money laudering. Criticism from media and record dissatisfaction of the public grew into a government crisis. For three months Gross tried to keep himself at the power until he was forced to resign on April 25 2005.
As of 2005 future of Gross in politics is questionable, his party popularity sunk to record low and trust in politicians among Czech people is shattered. Only the fact that such powerfull politician was at the end forced to step down is seen as positive side of the whole scandal.
External links
- Official biography in Czech (http://www.socdem.cz/vismo/o_osoba.asp?u=422010&id_org=422010&id_o=2700&p1=0&p2=&p3=)
- Czech PM faces corruption claim (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4230163.stm) - BBC News, Feb 2, 2005
- Coverage in Prague Post (http://www.praguepost.com/P02/pp.php/index.php?query_string=gross&a=2&a=2)