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Czech Government Loses Second Minister in Month Over Plagiarism

Czech Government Loses Second Minister in Month Over Plagiarism

(Bloomberg) -- A second minister quit the cabinet of billionaire Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis less than a month since it took office, with both resignations triggered by allegations of plagiarism.

Social Affairs Minister Petr Krcal, nominated by the junior coalition Social Democrats, announced his decision in Prague on Tuesday. Krcal told reporters “a misstep may have occurred” as he was compiling material for his university thesis, and said he was leaving because he wanted to prevent the allegations from hurting his party, the government and his family.

Last week, Babis’s pick for justice minister, Tatana Mala, resigned following criticism by media, academics and the opposition that she copied parts of her thesis without proper attribution. Mala denied any wrongdoing and said she was the target of a media campaign to discredit her.

To contact the reporter on this story: Peter Laca in Prague at placa@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Balazs Penz at bpenz@bloomberg.net, Michael Winfrey, Paul Abelsky

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