Secret-police powers again on the agenda

German Interior Min. Alexander Dobrindt announced an upgrade of his country's security level in mid-July, saying that "plans for attacks against our country ​are clearly discernible." Two weeks later an armed drone was discovered at Leipzig's airport, after which Dobrindt warned that hybrid attacks had become a daily threat. Yesterday the German government voted to vastly expand the powers of the BND and BfV intelligence services. Dobrindt had been working on the 730-page bill for months. Czech PM Andrej Babiš initially linked Dobrindt's security upgrade in mid-July only to flawed Western Europe migration policy, but he quickly fell into line after the drone was found in Leipzig. He announced that security was being increased at Czech airports in response. The bigger decision still lies ahead for Babiš's government. Does the CR want to take the path of Germany and drastically increase the powers of the secret police, or does it want instead to emphasize retaining the freedoms its citizens won back 37 years ago?