Conflict of interest, whether an “inflated bubble”? He attacks the mayor because of places in schools
In her profile, Zajíčková states that she is “a mother, wife, school principal, businesswoman and high school teacher”. But now it seems that there is too much for one person.
Fifteen years ago, the current mayor founded the Grammar School of International and Public Relations in Prague. In 2013, a private school won a school building in a tender from the city district to a ten-year lease after the abolished “foundation” in Plzeňská Street. The amount of the lease was 55 thousand crowns per month and the contract included an option to extend it until 2033.
After the municipal elections in 2018, Zajíčková first became a councilor for education and a year later took the chair of the mayor instead of the dismissed Daniel Mazur (Pirates), so she is already speaking on behalf of both parties in an amendment to the said agreement. It is only since April this year that her son Šimon Zajíček has been the managing director of the grammar school. In May, lawyer Václav Láska (SEN 21), a senator for Prague 5, also pointed out a possible conflict of interest in an open letter.
Another “neighborhood” movement emerged
The mayor’s case even led to the formation of the Prague 5 group, which was founded by Pavel Světlík, the representative of the capital for the “neighborhood” movement of Jan Čižinský. “This is definitely not the new policy to bring a new and better future to our country. And the leadership of the opposition parties? They are not interested at all, “says the City of Prague about the events at Smíchov City Hall.
The pressure on Zajíčková has intensified mainly because, especially in Košíře, there are long-standing concerns about enough places for schoolchildren. There was even a risk that he would have to draw lots for them. At the end of June, the residents forced an extraordinary meeting of the council with a petition. “I believe that the discussion reassured parents that there are and will be places in schools,” said Zajíčková, adding that Světlík et al. at the meeting they presented a “political exhibition of representatives of new local candidates”.
Love: Argumentation as Babiš
Prague 5 needs a new school building in V Cibulkách Street – Na Výši, or at the Nepomucká Primary School. In the meantime, temporary classes in the Tellus area of the YIT developer will serve, and the Zajíčková “family” grammar school can also free up capacity for the youngest pupils. Thanks to the memorandum, other companies that are building in the city district can also help. According to information from Pražský deník, the management of the city district is negotiating a new school, for example in the Waltrovka locality.
The mayor responded to Lásk’s criticism in mid-May legal analysis from Havel & Partners, according to which Zajíčková is not in conflict of interest. It is enough if we do not take part in specific votes. “I must state that the document is based on the same arguments, on the basis of which Andrej Babiš claims that there is no conflict of interest,” the senator compared the mayor to the prime minister, the head of the ANO movement and the owner of Agrofert.
According to her, Zajíčková is facing attacks due to the “self-visibility of several political opportunists” before the next municipal elections. Senator Láska recently announced that the SEN 21 movement also intends to run.
Zajíčková: Education as a Hostage to the Campaign
“Mr. Světlík and Láska spread misinformation and lies, which completely programmatically cause panic among local parents and tarnish my good name,” the mayor wrote to Pražský deník. “It is not true that the school capacity office does not address it. Thanks to the processed demographic analysis, he has a clear idea of the development of school capacities in the future as well, ”we will ensure.
In addition, Zajíčková confirmed that she will not prevent the possible termination of the lease agreement with “her” grammar school, if political support is found for this decision. “But I’m sorry that education in our part of the city has become a hostage to the offensive election campaign.”
However, the mayor has another problem related to the October elections to the Chamber of Deputies. Zajíčková is in the eighth place of the Prague candidate Together (ODS, TOP 09, KDU-ČSL). Since the beginning of the year, the coalition has already paid 14 million crowns for the campaign, according to a transparent account of political parties, to the Nordeko advertising agency, where another son, Matěj Zajíček, works. However, the Civic Democrats have been cooperating with the company for many years.
The head of the family is Zdeněk Zajíček. It is speculated about a member of the Prague ODS that he could be accepted as a candidate for mayor. So far, he is the head of the strongest opposition representative club.
“They are fully dedicated to the duties of the mayor of the city district. I address the local security, quality of education and future development through the Strategy 2030+, which was successfully and without changes approved by the opposition representatives at the last council. As an advertising agency, Nordeko may have dangerous clients. However, no details of her activities are known, “she told Zajíčková when asked by Pražský deník.