Libor Michálek

Libor Michálek
Senator from Prague 2
In office
20 October 2012 – 13 October 2018
Preceded byDaniela Filipiová
Succeeded byMarek Hilšer
Personal details
Born (1968-12-14) 14 December 1968
Náchod, Czechoslovakia
PartyIndependent
Other political
affiliations		Czech Pirate Party, Green Party, KDU-ČSL
Childrenthree
Alma materPalacký University of Olomouc, Masaryk University, Nottingham Trent University (MPA)
OccupationFinancial analyst

Libor Michálek (born 1968) is a Czech financial analyst, politician, and whistleblower. He led successful corruption cases against the Czech National Property Fund and the Czech Ministry of the Environment, as a former employee of both. Michálek was the member of the Czech Senate for Prague 2 from 2012 to 2018, representing the Pirate Party. He was the first Pirate Party candidate to be elected to national office. Michálek lost subsequent bids for re-election.

Early life and career

Libor Michálek was born in Náchod[1] on 14 December 1968.[2] He graduated from high school in Přerov in 1987, and from Palacký University of Olomouc in 1992.[1][3] He later studied in Masaryk University's management program,[1] and received his Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Nottingham Trent University's executive program in 2010.[3]

After college, he worked as a UNIX programmer, business school teacher, and portfolio manager at an investment company.[3] Michálek was a broker at the National Property Fund from 1994 to 1996,[1][3] when he was fired after exposing a tunneling embezzlement scheme.[4][5] The resulting court case found that he was improperly dismissed.[5] He was later involved in compensating victims of financial crime.[6][7] Michálek served as a capital market supervisor at the Czech Ministry of Finance from 1997 to 1998, a director at the Czech Securities Commission from 1998 to 2006, a director at the Czech National Bank from 2006 to 2007, a senior consultant at the World Bank in 2007, and the chief financial market inspector at the Czech National Bank from 2008 to 2010.[3]

Drobil case

In August 2010, Michálek became the director of the Czech State Environmental Fund.[1] On 13 December 2010, he filed a criminal complaint of corruption against the Environment Ministry in its tender for the reconstruction of a Prague water treatment plant.[6][8] He claimed the project was overpriced by 3,000,000,000 Kč.[6] Based on a secretly audiotaped conversation, Michálek also alleged that Martin Knetig, an advisor to environmental minister Pavel Drobil, asked him to manipulate the tender to fund his party (the Civic Democrats) and Drobil's political career.[9] Michálek recorded his subsequent conversation with Drobil, who allegedly offered his deputy position for the destruction of the tapes.[4][9] Upon the story's publication, Drobil fired Michálek and Knetig,[9][10][8] denied any wrongdoing,[4][11] and resigned a day later.[6][9]

Prime Minister Petr Nečas defended Drobil, and called Michálek untrustworthy despite his public reputation as a whistleblower.[5] Having vowed to fight corruption, losing a minister to corruption charges was damaging for the Civic Democrats.[12][13] The Drobil incident was the first of several high-profile resignations.[14] On 21 December 2010, Czech Police Chief Oldrich Martinu resigned after Interior Minister Radek John's month-long call for his ouster, in part due to mishandling of the Drobil case.[15] Michálek returned to the State Environmental Fund as a financial analyst in 2011.[3] In September 2012, the Drobil case was suspended indefinitely due to a lack of evidence.[16] From February 2013, the case against Knetig was also suspended due to insufficient evidence.[17]

In 2011, the Czech Endowment Fund Against Corruption awarded Michálek first prize for his whistleblowing role in the Environment Ministry corruption scandal.[18] The Charter 77 Foundation also awarded Michálek the 2011 František Kriegel Prize for "brave, consistent and uncompromising fight against corruption in government".[4][19]

Senate

At the end of July 2012, Libor Michálek accepted a nomination from the Czech Pirate, Green, and Christian Democrat parties to run for the Czech Senate in district 26.[20][21][22] He was primarily affiliated with the Pirate Party due to its transparency and accountability platforms.[21][23] His 12-point campaign platform prioritized direct democracy, fair political party competition, and anti-corruption oversight efforts alongside social welfare reforms.[24][25] In the October 2012 elections, he won 24.3 percent of the first round vote and 74.4 percent of the first-past-the-post runoff, winning a seat in the Czech Senate.[21][23] Another candidate, Karel Berka, challenged the decision,[26] but the Czech Supreme Administrative Court ruled the claims unfounded.[27][28] Michálek was the first Pirate Party candidate to be elected to national office.[21][29] His senatorial term was 2012–2018.[30]

Czech President Miloš Zeman publicly considered Michálek to lead the Supreme Audit Office.[31] In 2013, Michálek authored the first bill designed to protect whistleblowers, which was overwhelmingly rejected on the floor of the Senate.[32]

Michálek stood unsuccessfully for re-election in the 2018 Senate elections, winning 20 percent of the vote in the second round against Marek Hilšer's 80 percent.[33][34] Michálek, newly affiliated with the Vize pro Česko party, stood again in 2019 for the Prague 9 seat, placing sixth in the first round.[35] He began collecting signatures to run in the 2023 Czech presidential election,[36] but ultimately did not submit his candidacy.[37]

Personal life

Michálek is married and has three children.[38] He is a devout evangelical Christian.[5][39]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Libor Michálek is the new CEO of the State Environmental Fund CR". State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic. 4 August 2010. Archived from the original on 21 December 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  2. ^ ""Jsem široce rozkročená," nabízela se senátorovi zájemkyně o práci". Deník.cz (in Czech). 2 July 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Libor Michálek - Když se nehraje fér, pískám" [Libor Michalek - If you don't play fair, I whistle] (in Czech). Green Party. Retrieved 31 March 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  4. ^ a b c d "Charter 77 Foundation awards corruption whistle-blower". Prague Daily Monitor. Czech News Agency. 26 May 2011. Archived from the original on 22 August 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d Druker, Jeremy (8 March 2011). "The Perils of Blowing the Whistle". Transitions Online. Retrieved 31 March 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  6. ^ a b c d "Charter 77 to award corruption whistle-blower". Prague Daily Monitor. Czech News Agency. 11 April 2011. Archived from the original on 14 April 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  7. ^ "Kdo je Michálek - amatér, nebo hrdina?" [Who is Michálek—amateur or hero?]. ČT24 (in Czech). 16 December 2010. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  8. ^ a b Procházková, Martina (14 December 2010). "Drobil ukončil válku ve státním fondu: šéfa vyhodil, náměstkovi dal dovolenou" [Drobil ended the war in the state fund: boss fired, Deputy gave leave]. iDNES.cz (in Czech). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  9. ^ a b c d Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (8 April 2011). 2010 Human Rights Reports: Czech Republic (Report). United States Department of State. Retrieved 31 March 2013.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Sestak, Martin (14 December 2010). "Drobil zasahuje na fondu životního prostředí, padají hlavy" [Drobil encroaches on the Environment Fund, falling head]. ČT24 (in Czech). Retrieved 31 March 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. ^ "Drobil odmítá, že by nabízel post za zničení nahrávek" [Drobil denies that he offered a post for the destruction of records]. ČT24 (in Czech). 15 December 2010. Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  12. ^ "The gloss is off". The Economist. 21 December 2010. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  13. ^ Rousek, Leos (16 December 2010). "Czech No-Confidence Motion Stains Prime Minister's Image". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  14. ^ Nováček, Petr (16 May 2011). "Czech coalition threesome could break up in June". Česká Pozice (in Czech). Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  15. ^ "Police chief quits in deal to avert gov't collapse". The Prague Post. Archived from the original on 21 March 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  16. ^ Klang, Mikuláš (21 September 2012). "Drobilův případ je definitivně odložen, potvrdil nejvyšší žalobce Zeman" [Drobil case is indefinitely postponed top prosecutor Zeman confirmed]. iDNES.cz (in Czech). Archived from the original on 15 November 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  17. ^ "Drobilův exporadce Knetig byl opět zproštěn viny. Soud nemá dostatek důkazů" [Drobil advisers: Knetig was acquitted again. The court does not have enough evidence]. Hospodářské noviny (in Czech). Czech News Agency. 26 February 2013. Archived from the original on 1 March 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  18. ^ Bojčev, Nikola; Piroch, Jan; Zykmund, Zbynek; Černý, Ondřej (23 March 2011). "Protikorupční nadační fond udělil první ceny" [Anticorruption Endowment Fund awarded first prize] (in Czech). Czech Radio. Retrieved 31 March 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  19. ^ "PRICE FRANTISEK KRIEGEL" [František Kriegel Prize]. Konto BARIÉRY, nadace Charty 77 (in Czech). Archived from the original on 31 October 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  20. ^ "Corruption whistle-blower Michálek running for Senate". Prague Daily Monitor. Czech News Agency. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  21. ^ a b c d Jones, Ben (22 October 2012). "First Pirate Party Senator Elected in the Czech Republic". TorrentFreak. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  22. ^ Kopecký, Josef (30 July 2012). "Michálek, který srazil Drobila, chce do Senátu. Vadí mu ODS i ČSSD" [Michalek, who knocked Drobil, wants the Senate. It bothers him ODS and ČSSD]. iDNES.cz (in Czech). Archived from the original on 15 November 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  23. ^ a b "Volby do Senátu Parlamentu ČR konané dne 12.10. – 13.10.2012" [Elections to the Senate held on 12.10 - 13.10.2012] (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  24. ^ "Příloha č. 1 ke smlouvě o nominaci Libora Michálka na senátora" [Appendix No. 1 to the contract for the nomination for senator Libor Michalek] (PDF) (in Czech). Czech Pirate Party. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  25. ^ "Programové Teze Libor Michálka" [Program Theses Libor Michalek] (in Czech). Green Party. Retrieved 1 November 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  26. ^ "'Michálkův' okrsek. Padlo trestní oznámení" ['Michálkův' district criminal complaint filed]. První Zprávy (in Czech). Retrieved 31 March 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  27. ^ PRAŽANÉ ZA SVÁ PRÁVA v. Státní volební komise, a Mgr. L. M., MPA, 4, 39 (Supreme Administrative Court of the Czech Republic 2012) ("Je tedy namístě tento návrh zamítnout jako nedůvodný. [Therefore, this proposal should be rejected as unfounded.]").
  28. ^ "Výsledky senátních voleb se už nezmění, soud stížnostem nevyhověl" [The results of the senatorial election have not changed, the court dismisses complaints]. Novinky.cz (in Czech). 13 November 2012. Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  29. ^ "Česko vyhrálo mezinárodní pirátskou soutěž o průnik do parlamentu" [Czech won the international competition for the pirate penetration into Parliament]. Novinky.cz (in Czech). 21 October 2012. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  30. ^ "Mgr. Libor Michálek, MPA". Senát PČR. January 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  31. ^ "Jsem pro předčasné volby co nejdříve, řekl Zeman" [I'm all for early elections as soon as possible, said Zeman]. Novinky.cz (in Czech). 26 January 2013. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  32. ^ Carney, Sean (10 October 2013). "Czech Senate Overwhelmingly Rejects Whistleblower Bill". The Wall Street Journal. News Corporation. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  33. ^ Kopecký, Josef (21 November 2019). "Hilšer podruhé zabojuje o Hrad. I kandidát z ulice má šanci, řekl senátor". iDNES.cz.
  34. ^ "Výsledky hlasování". volby.cz.
  35. ^ "Z Prahy 9 do Senátu zamíří starosta Jarolím, nebo scenárista Smoljak. Dělilo je 137 hlasů". iROZHLAS. 6 April 2019.
  36. ^ "Prezidentem chce být i exsenátor Michálek. Z Hradu chce podporovat výstavbu bytů". Novinky.cz. 27 July 2022.
  37. ^ "Devět uchazečů splnilo zákonné požadavky a může usilovat o prezidentský úřad". ct24.ceskatelevize.cz.
  38. ^ "Mgr. Libor Michalek, MPA". Czech Pirate Party. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  39. ^ Pinc, Martin (20 December 2010). "Kdo je Libor Michálek" [Who is Libor Michalek]. DNES.cz (in Czech). Archived from the original on 10 January 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Libor Michálek.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.