Libor Michálek
{{Short description|Czech senator and whistle blower}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Libor Michálek
| image = Libor Michalek in 2012.JPG
| alt = Half-length color portrait of Czech man in his 40s, purple suit and tie, black suit jacket
| office = Senator from Prague 2
| term_start = 20 October 2012
| term_end = 13 October 2018
| predecessor = Daniela Filipiová
| successor = Marek Hilšer
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|12|12|df=y}}
| birth_place = Náchod, Czechoslovakia
| nationality = Czech
| party = Independent
| otherparty = Pirate, Green, Christian Democrat
| children = three
| alma_mater = Palacký University of Olomouc, Masaryk University, Nottingham Trent University (MPA)
| occupation = Financial analyst
| footnotes =
}}
Libor Michálek (born 1968) is a Czech economist, politician, and whistleblower. He led successful corruption cases against the Czech National Property Fund and the Environment Ministry as former employees of both. He was the first Pirate Party candidate to be elected to office in a national legislature. His senatorial term was 2012–2018.
Early life and career
Libor Michálek was born in Náchod in 1968. He graduated from high school in Přerov in 1987, and from Palacký University of Olomouc in 1992. He later studied in Masaryk University's management program, and received his MPA from Nottingham Trent University's executive program in 2010. After college, he worked as a UNIX programmer, business school teacher, and portfolio manager at an investment company. Michálek was a broker at the National Property Fund from 1994 to 1996, when he was fired after exposing a tunneling embezzlement scheme. The resulting court case found that he was improperly dismissed. He was later involved in compensating victims of financial crime. 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.
In August 2010, he became the director of the Czech State Environmental Fund. On 13 December 2010, Michálek filed a criminal complaint of corruption against the Environment Ministry in its tender for reconstruction of a Prague water treatment plant. He claimed the project was overpriced by {{Currency|{{Format price|3000000000}}|CZK}}. 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. Michálek recorded his subsequent conversation with Drobil, who allegedly offered his deputy position for the destruction of the tapes. Upon the story's publication, Drobil fired Michálek and Knetig, denied any wrongdoing, and resigned a day later.
Prime Minister Petr Nečas defended Drobil, and called Michálek untrustworthy despite his public reputation as a whistleblower. Since the Civic Democrats vowed to fight corruption, losing its first minister to corruption charges was a blow to the party's standing. The Drobil incident was the first of several high-profile resignations. 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 the Drobil case's mishandling. Michálek returned to the State Environmental Fund as a financial analyst in 2011. The Drobil case is on indefinite hiatus for a lack of evidence as of September 2012. As of February 2013, the case against Knetig is on a similar hiatus for insufficient evidence.
Michálek is married and has three children. He is a devout evangelical Christian.
The Senate
File:Libor Michálek 2012 Senate campaign booth (8068761078).jpg
At the end of July 2012, Libor Michálek accepted the Czech Pirate, Green, and Christian Democrat Party senatorial nominations for District 26. The Pirate Party was his primary affiliation due to its transparency and accountability platforms. His personal 12-point platform prioritized direct democracy, fair political party competition, and anti-corruption oversight efforts alongside social welfare reforms. 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, giving him the seat. Another candidate, Karel Berka, challenged the decision, but the Czech Supreme Administrative Court found the claims unfounded. He was the first Pirate Party candidate to be elected to national office, the 81-seat Czech Senate. His senatorial term was 2012–2018.
Czech President Miloš Zeman has publicly considered Michálek for leading the Supreme Audit Office. In 2013, Michálek authored the first bill designed to protect whistleblowers, which was overwhelmingly rejected on the floor of the Senate.
Awards
In March 2011, Michálek was awarded first prize from the Endowment Fund Against Corruption for his whistleblowing role in the Environment Ministry corruption scandal. In May 2011, he was awarded the František Kriegel Prize by the Charter 77 Foundation for his "brave, consistent and uncompromising fight against corruption in government."
{{Clear}}
References
{{Reflist|refs=
{{cite web|work=ČT24 |title=Drobil odmítá, že by nabízel post za zničení nahrávek |trans-title=Drobil denies that he offered a post for the destruction of records |url=http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ct24/domaci/110095-drobil-odmita-ze-by-nabizel-post-za-zniceni-nahravek/ |date=15 December 2010 |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709082314/http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ct24/domaci/110095-drobil-odmita-ze-by-nabizel-post-za-zniceni-nahravek/ |archive-date= 9 July 2012 |url-status=live }}
{{cite web|last=Sestak |first=Martin |work=ČT24 |title=Drobil zasahuje na fondu životního prostředí, padají hlavy |trans-title=Drobil encroaches on the Environment Fund, falling head |url=http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ct24/domaci/109942-drobil-zasahuje-na-fondu-zivotniho-prostredi-padaji-hlavy/ |date=14 December 2010 |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130210082025/http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ct24/domaci/109942-drobil-zasahuje-na-fondu-zivotniho-prostredi-padaji-hlavy/ |archive-date= 10 February 2013 |url-status=live }}
{{cite web|work=ČT24 |title=Kdo je Michálek - amatér, nebo hrdina? |trans-title=Who is Michálek—amateur or hero? |url=http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ct24/domaci/110171-kdo-je-michalek-amater-nebo-hrdina/ |date=16 December 2010 |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109135148/http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ct24/domaci/110171-kdo-je-michalek-amater-nebo-hrdina/ |archive-date= 9 November 2012 |url-status=live }}
{{cite news|newspaper=The Economist |title=The gloss is off |url=http://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2010/12/czech_republic |date=21 December 2010 |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109185112/http://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2010/12/czech_republic |archive-date= 9 November 2012 |url-status=live }}
{{cite web|first1=Nikola |last1=Bojčev |first2=Jan |last2=Piroch |first3=Zbynek |last3=Zykmund |first4=Ondřej |last4=Černý |work=Český rozhlas |title=Protikorupční nadační fond udělil první ceny |trans-title=Anticorruption Endowment Fund awarded first prize |url=http://www.rozhlas.cz/zpravy/politika/_zprava/868503 |date=23 March 2011 |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130210073945/http://www.rozhlas.cz/zpravy/politika/_zprava/868503 |archive-date= 10 February 2013 |url-status=live }}
{{cite web |work=Strana Zelených |title=Libor Michálek - Když se nehraje fér, pískám |trans-title=Libor Michalek - If you don't play fair, I whistle |url=http://www.zeleni.cz/strana/archiv-volby-2012/volby-do-senatu-2012/libor-michalek-kdyz-se-nehraje-fer-piskam/ |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130412063311/http://www.zeleni.cz/strana/archiv-volby-2012/volby-do-senatu-2012/libor-michalek-kdyz-se-nehraje-fer-piskam/ |archive-date=12 April 2013 |url-status=dead }}
{{cite web|work=Strana Zelených |title=Programové Teze Libor Michálka |trans-title=Program Theses Libor Michalek |url=http://www.zeleni.cz/media/volby-do-senatu-2012/libor-michalek-clanky/programove-teze-libora-michalka/ |access-date=1 November 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130210092003/http://www.zeleni.cz/media/volby-do-senatu-2012/libor-michalek-clanky/programove-teze-libora-michalka/ |archive-date= 10 February 2013 |url-status=dead }}
{{cite web|title=Kdo je Libor Michálek |trans-title=Who is Libor Michalek |last=Pinc |work=Mladá fronta DNES |first=Martin |url=http://pinc.blog.idnes.cz/c/169171/Kdo-je-Libor-Michalek.html |date=20 December 2010 |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110194650/http://pinc.blog.idnes.cz/c/169171/Kdo-je-Libor-Michalek.html |archive-date=10 January 2011 |url-status=live }}
{{cite web|last=Klang |first=Mikuláš |work=Mladá fronta DNES |title=Drobilův případ je definitivně odložen, potvrdil nejvyšší žalobce Zeman |trans-title=Drobil case is indefinitely postponed top prosecutor Zeman confirmed |url=http://zpravy.idnes.cz/nejvyssi-statni-zastupitelstvi-neotevre-drobilovu-kauzu-po0-/krimi.aspx?c=A120921_151824_krimi_klm |date=21 September 2012 |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115142332/http://zpravy.idnes.cz/nejvyssi-statni-zastupitelstvi-neotevre-drobilovu-kauzu-po0-/krimi.aspx?c=A120921_151824_krimi_klm |archive-date= 15 November 2012 |url-status=live }}
{{cite web|last=Procházková |first=Martina |title=Drobil ukončil válku ve státním fondu: šéfa vyhodil, náměstkovi dal dovolenou |trans-title=Drobil ended the war in the state fund: boss fired, Deputy gave leave |work=Mladá fronta DNES |url=http://zpravy.idnes.cz/drobil-ukoncil-valku-ve-statnim-fondu-sefa-vyhodil-namestkovi-dal-dovolenou-1s0-/domaci.aspx?c=A101214_150838_domaci_taj |date=14 December 2010 |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081708/http://zpravy.idnes.cz/drobil-ukoncil-valku-ve-statnim-fondu-sefa-vyhodil-namestkovi-dal-dovolenou-1s0-/domaci.aspx?c=A101214_150838_domaci_taj |archive-date= 4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}
{{cite web|agency=Czech News Agency |title=Drobilův exporadce Knetig byl opět zproštěn viny. Soud nemá dostatek důkazů |trans-title=Drobil advisers: Knetig was acquitted again. The court does not have enough evidence |work=Hospodářské noviny |url=http://zpravy.ihned.cz/c1-59400900-exporadce-byvaleho-ministra-zivotniho-prostredi-martin-knetig-znovu-zprosten-viny |date=26 February 2013 |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301071459/http://zpravy.ihned.cz/c1-59400900-exporadce-byvaleho-ministra-zivotniho-prostredi-martin-knetig-znovu-zprosten-viny |archive-date= 1 March 2013 |url-status=live }}
{{cite web|work=Konto BARIÉRY, nadace Charty 77 |title=PRICE FRANTISEK KRIEGEL |trans-title=František Kriegel Prize |url=http://www.kontobariery.cz/Projekty/Ceny/Cena-Frantiska-Kriegla.aspx |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031042427/http://www.kontobariery.cz/Projekty/Ceny/Cena-Frantiska-Kriegla.aspx |archive-date= 31 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}
{{cite web|work=Novinky.cz |title=Výsledky senátních voleb se už nezmění, soud stížnostem nevyhověl |trans-title=The results of the senatorial election have not changed, the court dismisses complaints |url=http://www.novinky.cz/domaci/291409-jsem-pro-predcasne-volby-co-nejdrive-rekl-zeman.html |date=13 November 2012 |access-date=1 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116021808/http://www.novinky.cz/domaci/284640-vysledky-senatnich-voleb-se-uz-nezmeni-soud-stiznostem-nevyhovel.html |archive-date= 16 November 2012 |url-status=live }}
{{cite web|work=Novinky.cz |title=Česko vyhrálo mezinárodní pirátskou soutěž o průnik do parlamentu |trans-title=Czech won the international competition for the pirate penetration into Parliament |url=http://www.novinky.cz/domaci/282256-cesko-vyhralo-mezinarodni-piratskou-soutez-o-prunik-do-parlamentu.html |date=21 October 2012 |access-date=1 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023205123/http://www.novinky.cz/domaci/282256-cesko-vyhralo-mezinarodni-piratskou-soutez-o-prunik-do-parlamentu.html |archive-date= 23 October 2012 |url-status=live }}
{{cite web|work=Novinky.cz |title=Jsem pro předčasné volby co nejdříve, řekl Zeman |trans-title=I'm all for early elections as soon as possible, said Zeman |url=http://www.novinky.cz/domaci/291409-jsem-pro-predcasne-volby-co-nejdrive-rekl-zeman.html |date=26 January 2013 |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130140838/http://www.novinky.cz/domaci/291409-jsem-pro-predcasne-volby-co-nejdrive-rekl-zeman.html |archive-date= 30 January 2013 |url-status=live }}
{{cite web |agency=Czech News Agency |work=Prague Daily Monitor |title=Charter 77 to award corruption whistle-blower |url=http://praguemonitor.com/2011/04/11/charter-77-award-corruption-whistle-blower |date=11 April 2011 |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414122806/http://praguemonitor.com/2011/04/11/charter-77-award-corruption-whistle-blower |archive-date=14 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}
{{cite web |agency=Czech News Agency |work=Prague Daily Monitor |title=Charter 77 Foundation awards corruption whistle-blower |url=http://praguemonitor.com/2011/05/26/charter-77-foundation-awards-corruption-whistle-blower |date=26 May 2011 |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822022559/http://praguemonitor.com/2011/05/26/charter-77-foundation-awards-corruption-whistle-blower |archive-date=22 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}
{{cite web |agency=Czech News Agency |work=Prague Daily Monitor |title=Corruption whistle-blower Michálek running for Senate |url=http://praguemonitor.com/2012/08/01/corruption-whistle-blower-mich%C3%A1lek-running-senate |date=1 August 2012 |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411161640/http://praguemonitor.com/2012/08/01/corruption-whistle-blower-mich%C3%A1lek-running-senate |archive-date=11 April 2013 |url-status=dead }}
{{cite web|work=Piráti |title=Mgr. Libor Michalek, MPA |url=https://www.pirati.cz/lide/libor_michalek |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021213620/http://www.pirati.cz/lide/libor_michalek |archive-date= 21 October 2012 |url-status=live }}
{{cite web|work=Piráti |title=Příloha č. 1 ke smlouvě o nominaci Libora Michálka na senátora |trans-title=Appendix No. 1 to the contract for the nomination for senator Libor Michalek |url=https://www.pirati.cz/_media/cf/volebni_program_libora_michalka.pdf |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329131109/https://www.pirati.cz/_media/cf/volebni_program_libora_michalka.pdf |archive-date= 29 March 2016 |url-status=live }}
{{cite web|work=The Prague Post |title=Police chief quits in deal to avert gov't collapse |url=http://www.praguepost.com/news/6957-police-chief-quits-in-deal-to-avert-govt-collapse.html |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321221810/http://www.praguepost.com/news/6957-police-chief-quits-in-deal-to-avert-govt-collapse.html |archive-date= 21 March 2013 |url-status=live }}
{{cite web|last=Kopecký |first=Josef |work=Mladá fronta DNES |title=Michálek, který srazil Drobila, chce do Senátu. Vadí mu ODS i ČSSD |trans-title=Michalek, who knocked Drobil, wants the Senate. It bothers him ODS and CSSD |url=http://zpravy.idnes.cz/michalek-miri-do-politiky-bude-kandidovat-do-senatu-fxt-/domaci.aspx?c=A120730_132734_domaci_kop |date=30 July 2012 |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115142411/http://zpravy.idnes.cz/michalek-miri-do-politiky-bude-kandidovat-do-senatu-fxt-/domaci.aspx?c=A120730_132734_domaci_kop |archive-date= 15 November 2012 |url-status=live }}
{{cite web|work=Český statistický úřad |title=Volby do Senátu Parlamentu ČR konané dne 12.10. – 13.10.2012 |trans-title=Elections to the Senate held on 12.10 - 13.10.2012 |url=http://volby.cz/pls/senat/se2111?xjazyk=CZ&xdatum=20121012&xobvod=26 |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029004916/http://volby.cz/pls/senat/se2111?xjazyk=CZ&xdatum=20121012&xobvod=26 |archive-date= 29 October 2014 |url-status=live }}
{{cite court |litigants=PRAŽANÉ ZA SVÁ PRÁVA v. Státní volební komise, a Mgr. L. M., MPA |year=2012 |vol=4 |pinpoint=39 |court=Supreme Administrative Court of the Czech Republic |url=http://www.nssoud.cz/files/SOUDNI_VYKON/2012/0004_0Vol_120_20121114080822_prevedeno.pdf |quote=Je tedy namístě tento návrh zamítnout jako nedůvodný. [Therefore, this proposal should be rejected as unfounded.]}}
{{cite web|last=Jones |first=Ben |work=TorrentFreak |title=First Pirate Party Senator Elected in the Czech Republic |url=http://torrentfreak.com/first-pirate-party-senator-elected-in-the-czech-republic-121022/ |date=22 October 2012 |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026162136/http://torrentfreak.com/first-pirate-party-senator-elected-in-the-czech-republic-121022/ |archive-date= 26 October 2012 |url-status=live }}
{{cite web |last=Druker |first=Jeremy |work=Transitions Online |title=The Perils of Blowing the Whistle |url=http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=df9858f0-3ef4-4442-8f38-42440d7967fc@sessionmgr112&vid=1&hid=118&bdata=JmF1dGh0eXBlPWdlbyZnZW9jdXN0aWQ9Y2pybGMwODUmc2l0ZT1laG9zdC1saXZl |date=8 March 2011 |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240526084841/https://www.webcitation.org/6BrWCTxjS?url=http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail%3Fsid=df9858f0-3ef4-4442-8f38-42440d7967fc@sessionmgr112&vid=1&hid=118&bdata=JmF1dGh0eXBlPWdlbyZnZW9jdXN0aWQ9Y2pybGMwODUmc2l0ZT1laG9zdC1saXZl |archive-date=26 May 2024 |url-status=live }}
{{Cite report|author=Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor |author-link=Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor |date=8 April 2011 |title=2010 Human Rights Reports: Czech Republic |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/eur/154420.htm |publisher=United States Department of State |access-date=31 March 2013 }}
{{cite web|url=http://blogs.wsj.com/emergingeurope/2013/10/10/czech-senate-overwhelmingly-rejects-whistleblower-bill/ |access-date=22 October 2013 |title=Czech Senate Overwhelmingly Rejects Whistleblower Bill |last1=Carney |first1=Sean |date=10 October 2013 |work=The Wall Street Journal |publisher=News Corporation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023063023/http://blogs.wsj.com/emergingeurope/2013/10/10/czech-senate-overwhelmingly-rejects-whistleblower-bill/ |archive-date=23 October 2013 |url-status=live }}
{{cite web|last=Rousek |first=Leos |work=The Wall Street Journal |title=Czech No-Confidence Motion Stains Prime Minister's Image |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/emergingeurope/2010/12/16/czech-no-confidence-motion-stains-czech-pms-mr-clean-image/ |date=16 December 2010 |access-date=31 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023063557/http://blogs.wsj.com/emergingeurope/2010/12/16/czech-no-confidence-motion-stains-czech-pms-mr-clean-image/ |archive-date= 23 October 2013 |url-status=live }}
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External links
- {{Commons category-inline}}
- {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20190112071753/http://www.libormichalek.cz/}}
- {{Twitter}}
{{Czech Pirate Party|state=expanded}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Czech Republic|Politics}}
{{Authority control}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Michalek, Libor}}
Category:20th-century Czech economists
Category:Czech Pirate Party senators
Category:Members of the Senate of the Czech Republic
Category:Masaryk University alumni
Category:Palacký University Olomouc alumni