EXPLAINED: Why corruption still defines modern Czechia – and why you should care

Sorting out a legacy of kickbacks, 'tunelování', and weak political will as multiple corruption controversies unfold in Czechia.

Elizabeth Zahradnicek-Haas

Written by Elizabeth Zahradnicek-Haas Published on 01.12.2025 08:57:00 (updated on 01.12.2025) Reading time: 5 minutes

Business & Money
Shutterstock by RODWORKS
Shutterstock by RODWORKS

Czechia is again grappling with a corruption crisis, from last Friday’s police discovery of CZK 80 million in cash in the safe of Jiří Svoboda, head of the Railway Administration (Správa železnic), to the escalating constitutional standoff over PM-elect Andrej Babiš’ unresolved conflict of interest.

These scandals are not isolated; they sit atop a cultural and institutional legacy that normalized theft from the state, gave rise to the post-communist phenomenon of tunelování (tunneling), and today continues to fuel systemic corruption at both petty and elite levels.

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If you are finding it difficult to keep up with the torrent of scandals, here is what you need to know about stolen cash, political power, and why Czech institutions are struggling to achieve public accountability.

#Andrej Babiš #Corruption #explainer #politics #transparency international
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