Czech PM Resigns Over Spy Scandal

Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas announced today that he will resign over a spy and bribery scandal involving his government. Necas said he also will quit tomorrow as chairman of his conservative Civic Democratic Party. He has been under pressure to quit since police conducted raids all across the country this week and arrested eight people, including Necas' closest aide and the head of his office, Jana Nagyova. She was charged with ordering a military intelligence agency to spy on three people, including Necas' estranged wife.

Seven other people, including the current and former heads of the Military Intelligence agency and three former lawmakers of his party, were charged with bribery or misuse of power. "I am aware of my political responsibility," Necas said. His decision will end his three-party coalition government, which was created after the 2010 parliamentary election. But Necas said he hopes it can stay in power until a parliamentary election planned next year. Necas announced earlier this week that he and his wife, Radka, have filed for divorce. Newspapers have speculated about an affair between him and Nagyova. (More Petr Necas stories.)