During his service, several scandals in the police had leaked out: corruption among the highest officials, irregularities in business tenders and failure to solve serial murders.

Gross was also criticized for installing his friends and allies as executives in state-owned companies and for misuse of secret services for political aims.

His youthful, photogenic appearance, skills in dealing with media and unwillingness to get involved in controversial decisions or discussions helped.

[citation needed] In the 2004 European election, ČSSD lost badly and the popularity of the party was low; this led to the resignation of Špidla on 26 July.

[citation needed] In early 2005, Gross faced a scandal related to unclear origins of the loan to buy his flat.

It was found that his wife was a business associate of a brothel owner who was later sentenced for insurance fraud to five years[citation needed] in prison.

The reason was growing suspicion about corruption involving Gross during the sale of the chemical conglomerate Unipetrol to the Polish state-owned entreprise PKN Orlen.

[4] After leaving the world of top level politics Gross started to work for the Law Office of Eduard Bruna.

[5] In September 2007, the economics weekly Euro published information that Gross and his wife bought up to a 31% stake in the energy company Moravia Energo.