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Stanislav Gross | |
|---|---|
 Gross in 2004 | |
| Prime Minister of the Czech Republic | |
| In office 4 August 2004 – 25 April 2005 | |
| President | Václav Klaus |
| Preceded by | Vladimír Špidla |
| Succeeded by | Jiří Paroubek |
| Leader of theSocial Democratic Party | |
| In office 26 July 2004 – 26 April 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Vladimír Špidla |
| Succeeded by | Bohuslav Sobotka (acting) |
| Minister of the Interior | |
| In office 5 April 2000 – 4 August 2004 | |
| Prime Minister | Miloš Zeman Vladimír Špidla |
| Preceded by | Václav Grulich |
| Succeeded by | František Bublan |
| Member of theChamber of Deputies | |
| In office 6 June 1992 – 21 September 2004 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1969-10-30)30 October 1969 Prague,Czechoslovakia |
| Died | 16 April 2015(2015-04-16) (aged 45) Prague,Czech Republic |
| Political party | ČSSD |
| Spouse | Šárka Grossová |
| Alma mater | Charles University(M.L.) University of West Bohemia(JD) |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Signature |  |
Stanislav Gross (Czech pronunciation:[ˈstaɲɪslavˈɡros]; 30 October 1969 – 16 April 2015) was a Czech lawyer and politician who served as theprime minister of the Czech Republic and leader of theCzech Social Democratic Party from 2004 until 2005 when he resigned as a result of his financial irregularities. He previously served asminister of the Interior in cabinets ofMiloš Zeman andVladimír Špidla from 2000 to 2004. Gross was Member of theChamber of Deputies (MP) from 1992 to 2004.
Gross died on 16 April 2015 at the age of 45 fromamyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Born inPrague, Gross briefly worked forCzechoslovak State Railways (ČSD) as an engine-driver trainee. After theVelvet Revolution in 1989, he became a member of the Social Democratic party and in 1992 member of the parliament. After studies in law from 1993 to 1999 he obtained an academic title, although under less than normal conditions. His thesis had a mere 33 pages.[1]
On 5 April 2000 he was named interior minister in the government ofMiloš Zeman. After elections in 2002, Gross continued as interior minister and became deputy prime minister in the government ofVladimír Špidla.
During his service, several scandals in the police had leaked out: corruption among the highest officials, irregularities in business tenders and failure to solve serial murders. Gross claimed that this was due to a better ability to discover such behaviour within the 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.[2]
In spite of these problems, Gross was able to maintain higher popularity than other politicians (his peak came in at over 70%). His youthful, photogenic appearance, skills in dealing with media and unwillingness to get involved in controversial decisions or discussions helped.[citation needed]
In the2004 European election, ČSSD lost badly and the popularity of the party was low; this led to the resignation of Špidla on 26 July. Gross was appointed prime minister on 4 August 2004 and his government was approved on 24 August.
Gross was seen by his party as the last way to regain popularity and better handle future elections. This was proved wrong; in elections for regional assemblies and Senate elections, the Social Democrats failed again.
Gross claimed he would modernise the party on lines similar to those followed byTony Blair, but his short time in office and constant involvement with scandals did not give him any time to implement changes. His popularity started to decline, and his involvement in further allegations of nepotism, police corruption, suspicious dealings in state privatisations accelerated the decline.[citation needed]
In early 2005, Gross faced a scandal related to unclear origins of the loan to buy his flat. It was found that his wife was a business associate of a brothel owner who was later sentenced for insurance fraud to five years[citation needed] in prison. Criticism from the media and record public dissatisfaction grew into a government crisis. For three months, Gross tried to keep himself in power until he was forced to resign on 25 April 2005. His popularity sank to a record low, and trust in politicians among Czech people was shattered.[3]
In September 2005 Gross stepped down from his remaining position of party leader. The reason was growing suspicion about corruption involving Gross during the sale of the chemical conglomerateUnipetrol to the Polish state-owned entreprisePKN Orlen.
Gross denied all accusations as an absurd conspiracy against him.[4]
After leaving the world of top level politics Gross started to work for the Law Office of Eduard Bruna. Between April 2006 and January 2007 he served as the chairman of Security Commission of the Social Democrats (bezpečnostní komise). The media had occasionally speculated about his influence on decisions made within the Czech police.[5]
In September 2007, the economics weekly Euro published information that Gross and his wife bought up to a 31% stake in the energy companyMoravia Energo. The value of the stake was estimated to be worth about 300 millionCZK. The journal calculated that the banks would provide at most two-thirds of the sum and the rest was thus paid by Gross.[6] When this information was published Gross refused to provide details to the press on grounds of privacy.[7]By June 2008 Gross successfully sold his 31% stake for 150 million CZK, his original purchase price was 21 million CZK. The whole deal was very curious and was investigated, but it was quickly found to be a legitimate business deal according to the Czech Police.[8]
On 18 March 2008 he failed thebar exam,[9] but later passed it and opened a private law practice.[10] Gross was student of theCharles University in Prague and later was awarded his law degree by theUniversity of West Bohemia atPlzeň. In 2009 this university has been the centre of investigations into allegations of law degrees being awarded after only a few months study. Gross was mentioned during the investigation.
In early 2008 together with his wifeŠárka Grossová, they purchased a $735,000 (or 11 million CZK) Hidden Bay luxury condo inMiami, Florida (review of public online county records show that the property was purchased in his wife's name only). Gross and his wife also purchased a small 10 million CZK house in need of major renovations about 1 km from their apartment inBarrandov, Prague, Czech Republic (controversy surrounding the purchase of that apartment was one of the key factors in his stepping down from his post as prime minister and leaving politics).[11]
Gross died on 16 April 2015 at the age of 45 fromamyotrophic lateral sclerosis.[12]
Gross was an inspiration for the character of corrupt prime minister Klein in the filmGangster Ka.[13]
A May 2006 article discusses Gross in context of corruption scandal around production ofbio-oil in the Czech Republic
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Minister of the Interior 2000–2004 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of the Czech Republic 2004–2005 | Succeeded by |
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| Leadership elections | ||
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| History and related topics | ||
| Protectorate Bohemia and Moravia (1939–1945) |  | |
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| Czech Socialist Republic (1969–1990) | ||
| Czech Federative Republic (1990–1992) | ||
| Czech Republic (1993–present) | ||
Cabinet of Prime Minister Stanislav Gross (2004–2005) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Minister of Labour and social affairs Deputy Prime minister | | |
| Minister of Justice Deputy Prime minister | ||
| Minister of Transportation Deputy Prime minister | ||
| Deputy Prime minister for Economics | ||
| Minister of Finance | ||
| Minister of Regional development | ||
| Minister of the Environment | ||
| Minister of Interior | ||
| Minister of Informatics | ||
| Minister of Industry and Trade | ||
| Minister of Health | ||
| Minister of Agriculture | ||
| Minister of Culture | ||
| Minister of Defence | ||
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | ||
| Minister of Education, Youth and Physical training | ||
| Minister without Portfolio Chairman of the legislative council | ||
Cabinet of Prime Minister Vladimír Špidla (2002–2004) | ||
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| Minister of Interior Deputy Prime minister |  | |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs Deputy Prime minister | ||
| Deputy Prime minister | ||
| Minister for Science and Research, Human rights and resources | ||
| Minister of Finance | ||
| Minister of Labour and social affairs | ||
| Minister of Justice | ||
| Minister of Transportation | ||
| Minister of Regional development | ||
| Minister of the Environment | ||
| Minister of Informatics | ||
| Minister of Industry and Trade | ||
| Minister of Health | ||
| Minister of Agriculture | ||
| Minister of Culture | ||
| Minister of Defence | ||
| Minister of Education, Youth and Physical training | ||
Cabinet of Prime Minister Miloš Zeman (1998–2002) | ||
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| Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Deputy Prime minister |  | |
| Minister of Industry and Trade Deputy Prime minister | ||
| Minister of Foreign Affairs Deputy Prime minister | ||
| Minister of coordinating foreign, interior and defense Deputy Prime minister | ||
| Deputy Prime minister | ||
| Chairman of the Government Legislative Council Deputy Prime minister | ||
| Minister of Justice | ||
| Minister for Regional Development | ||
| Minister of Health | ||
| Minister of Culture | ||
| Minister for the Interior | ||
| Minister of Environment | ||
| Minister of Transport | ||
| Minister of Finance | ||
| Minister of Defence | ||
| Minister of Education | ||
| Minister of Agriculture | ||
| Minister without Portfolio | ||
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| National | |
| Other | |
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