Czech politicians exchange blows (pictures :-)))

BBC News ^ | Sunday, 21 May 2006

[lizol]

Czech politicians exchange blows

Czech Health Minister David Rath has been in a punch-up with his right-wing rival, Miroslav Macek, during a meeting of disgruntled dentists in Prague. Mr Macek, a presidential adviser and former deputy PM who is also a dentist, broke off an address to slap Mr Rath hard on the back of the head.

Mr Rath responded by calling him a coward and the two men traded blows.

This rare case of violence in Czech politics comes two weeks before highly anticipated parliamentary elections.

The meeting of dentists, at which Mr Macek was moderator, took place at the start of a period of planned protest against Mr Rath's policies, dubbed "A Week of Healthcare Unrest".

But, says BBC Prague correspondent Rob Cameron, no-one had envisaged the unrest going quite this far.

'Coward'

Mr Macek took the stage to begin the discussion.

But before he did so, he explained to the audience there was a private matter he had to settle with Mr Rath first.

He walked up behind him and slapped him, hard, on the back of the head.

The audience watched in amazement as a stunned Mr Rath rose and made to leave.

But then the health minister turned on his heels, walked up to Mr Macek and called him a coward.

Mr Macek responded by hitting him again, and the two men began throwing punches.

Mr Macek explained he slapped Mr Rath because he made comments about his wife.

But this incident, between senior members of the country's two leading political parties, comes less than two weeks before parliamentary elections.

Our correspondent says election campaigns in the Czech Republic are usually rather dull affairs - but this year's are proving anything but boring.

[lizol]

The Czech Republic's Former Deputy Prime Minister breaks off addressing a meeting of dentists to deliver a hard slap to the back of Health Minister David Rath's head.



A stunned Mr Rath stands up as Mr Macek returns to the podium to continue his speech.

Mr Rath takes some steps away from the stage before returning to confront Mr Macek and call him a "coward".

Mr Macek hits Mr Rath again.

The two men start punching each other...

... and nearly push each other off the stage.

Mr Macek said he slapped Mr Rath because of comments he had made about his wife. The incident, on the eve of polls, has shattered the normally placid image of Czech politics.

[lizol]

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[Wolfie]

I've seen rougher pillow fights.

[GSlob]

It's good that it was during the meeting of dentists. If any teeth were knocked out, the people to set it right were right on hand.

[tet68]

Czech......and mate.

[lizol]

[Bon mots]

I wish more politicians would get slapped around from time to time. Would do a lot of good.

Anybody got a link to a film of this?

[umgud]

Looks like a cancelled Czech to me.

[lizol]

Follow the link to the BBC site, there is video footage of the fight available there.

[Polybius]

Mr Macek said he slapped Mr Rath because of comments he had made about his wife.

There is only one way to settle this honorably..........

[operation clinton cleanup]

Mr Macek said he slapped Mr Rath because of comments he had made about his wife.

Perhaps he commented on the state of her ugly grill?

[FlingWingFlyer]

Nyk! Nyk! Nyk! Woooooo. Wooo. Wooo. Wooo.

[jslade]

Czech Dentists Gone Wild-The Video.

[Birmingham Rain]

"I wish more politicians would get slapped around from time to time. Would do a lot of good."

I'd be tempted to sell my vote to slap a few of 'em.

[Cheapskate]

"Paging Sen. Turbin, Paging Sen Turbin! You're late for your 11am. bea meeting"