Reports about overpriced military-equipment purchases under Defense Min. Jana Černochová of ODS often include mention of her first deputy, František Šulc, given his perceived position on some deals as both buyer and seller. He denies any wrongdoing. Jaroslav Štefec of Stačilo!/Enough!, a past high-level procurement officer at the defense ministry, explained to Jana Bobošíková of Stačilo! on Sun. why the ministry sometimes pays 2-3 times more than the usual price for equipment. Prices are determined by a court appraiser in what Štefec called a criminal structure. Political responsibility for what happens at the ministry is held mainly by Černochová and PM Petr Fiala, so it was a clear signal (for those who noticed) when Šulc was allowed to stand in for her at a meeting about defense spending at the Castle last week. The message is that national security is almost an afterthought and that the eagerness to boost defense spending from 2% of GDP to 5% or more actually has little to do with it.