It's real, not sitcom, says Czech PM

Czech MPs have been ordered to watch episodes of Yes Minister to learn how democracy works.

Prime Minister Petr Necas said it was not a sitcom but a ‘realistic document’ of the workings of government – and said his ministers watched it ‘compulsorily’.

His comments came after he uttered a line worthy of mandarin Sir Humphrey Appleby on Czech TV. When asked about proposed changes to the country’s pensions system, he replied: ‘I do not like the proposal, but I absolutely support it.’

The interviewer then brought up Yes Minister, which Nicas said government members were ordered to watch, according to a report on Prague Daily Monitor.

‘It is not any comedy sitcom, but a realistic document,’ Necas added, possibly with tongue in cheek. ‘This is how it works everywhere in the world with the democratic system of governance.’

Czech Television regularly shows both Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister. The station has also aired a subtitled version The Thick Of It (retitled Je To Soda) – but there’s no word yet as to whether Ministers have had to watch that.

Published: 6 Dec 2010