Czech press survey - August 8

However, it would be far better if they had spoken when they were helplessly watching how their work is marred, he points out.

If, for example, former chief-of-staff Vlastimil Picek insisted on his opposition to the purchase of the CASA transport aircraft, we would not have unsuitable planes and a corruption case, Leschtina says.

But Martinec, Picek and even the more an ordinary detective would bring their police career to an end by rebelling against their then bosses, he writes.

But such bravery would not be forgotten, he says, referring to the cases of former senior detective Jan Kubice, now interior minister, and whistleblower Vladimir Michalek who was dismissed from the Environment Ministry after reporting corruption and now he is running for senator with a decent chance of succeeding, Leschtina concludes.

The new Czech National Association of Romanies wants to interconnect the activities of all Romany organisations and personalities and be a platform for the solution of Romany affairs in the country, but the association itself offers no solution, David Stverka says in Mlada fronta Dnes.

The association´s website presents only the names of its leaders and a photo gallery. If one clicks one any other reference on the website, the announcement that the website is being developed appears, Stverka writes.

A strategic solution to the Romany issue? he asks. It is simple: Nothing, he says with irony.

When Defence Minister Alexandr Vondra recently said the military budget is so critically small that the army won´t be able to guarantee the country´s protection, it might seem just like routine complaints of a cabinet minister fighting for his department, Daniel Kaiser writes in Lidove noviny.

But the plans for Czech active reservists show that the military is really getting close to the critical line, Kaiser writes.

He says the army would like to use reservists more and let them serve with military units, for example as IT specialists or doctors.

The military openly admits that it is moving towards a state of emergency, Kaiser writes.

The West is not willing to spend money on defence anymore and the Czech Republic, unfortunately, is following the example, he says.

kva/t