Czech News 18.07.2013 - 11.07.2013
CR: 18.07.2013 Benešová and Pavel Zeman defend SA Ištvan
Justice Minister Marie Benešová has refused to launch disciplinary proceedings against state attorneys Ivo Ištvan and Rostislav Bajger. This was suggested to her by former prime minister Petr Nečas, who feels that the corruption charges that the two attorneys brought against his former chief-of-staff Jana Nagyová and three former Civic Democratic MPs contradict the recent decision of the Supreme Court. The lawyers of one of the three former MPs has also asked the Highest State Attorney Pavel Zeman to supervise the work of Mr. Ištvan, who is the leading state attorney on the case. Mr. Zeman said that it is part of his job to review the case, but also told the press on Thursday that some politicians have gone too far in verbally attacking the state attorneys and police officers investigating in the corruption scandal that brought down Mr. Nečas’s government.
Prague City Hall wants to get homeless people off Prague’s public transport
The Prague City Hall has said it wants to get homeless people off Prague’s trams, buses and metro. Mayor Tomáš Hudeček said on Thursday he will establish a working group to tackle the problem. The body is to be made up of Prague Transport authority officials, police officers and NGO representatives. Mr. Hudeček said it was not yet clear how many officers and street-workers would be needed to resolve the problem. He said he hoped to see results in the winter of this year. Due to the inadequate capacity of Prague shelters for the homeless many homeless people seek protection from the cold on the city’s public transport.
Expert medical witness dismisses Janoušek’s breathalyzer results
An expert medical witness, who was questioned as part of the ongoing trial against businessman Roman Janoušek, said that positive results of the police breathalyzer test cannot be used as conclusive evidence of the fact that the defendant was drunk at the time of the hit-and-run incident last year. Mr. Janoušek is facing attempted murder charges, having rear-ended a car and then hitting the driver as she tried to stop him. The police measured 0.2 blood alcohol level after the incident with a breathalyzer, but Mr. Janoušek refused to submit to a blood test, which would have provided results that could serve as sufficient evidence in court, according to the expert testimony on Thursday.
Five more people charged over České Budejovice protests
The police have charged five more people in connection with the recent unrest and anti-Roma demonstrations surrounding the Máj neighborhood in the South Bohemian town of České Budejovice. The charges, leveled against both demonstrators and local Roma residents, include disorderly conduct, violent acts against a group, and inciting racial and ethnic hatred. Three major protests took place in České Budejovice over the past three weeks, which involved both local residents and extremist demonstrators from elsewhere. The police detained more than 60 people during the protests, and so far a total of 10 people have been charged.
Lawyer brought under disciplinary action for placing slanderous ad
The Czech Bar Association has lodged a disciplinary complaint against Vladimír Zavadil, a lawyer who placed an advertisement attacking then presidential candidate Karel Schwarzenberg that appeared in the tabloid Blesk on the eve of the final round of a presidential election in January. The complaint accuses Mr. Zavadil of not abiding by the legal statutes and professional ethics which require lawyers to act in upright, honorable and respectable manner at all times. The ad urged readers not to vote for Karel Schwarzenberg and made a number of statements, which Mr. Schwarzenberg's team characterized as lies. A police investigation into the matter was shelved earlier. If the disciplinary proceedings prove that he has broken his legal and ethical responsibilities, Mr. Zavadil may be facing a fine or even a ban on practicing law.
Stolperstein commemoration Milena Jesenská installed
A commemorative cobblestone, called Stolperstein, has been placed in front of a house on Kouřimská street in Prague’s Vinohrady neighborhood in memory of the writer and journalist Milena Jesenská, who was arrested by the Gestapo in 1939 and died in the Ravensbrück concentration camp in 1944. Jesenská was a close friend of Franz Kafka and had joined an underground resistance movement after the German occupation of Czechoslovakia, for which she was arrested. The Stolperstein cobblestones have been installed in various European cities in front of houses where victims of the Nazi regime resided before their deportation or arrest. In the upcoming days, 89 such stones will be placed around Prague and in a number of other Czech cities. This Sunday, a Stolperstein will be installed in Prague in memory of Přemysl Šámal, who was the first mayor of the city after Czechoslovakia gained independence in 1918.
Fischer says repayment of election debt was above-board
Finance Minister Jan Fischer said on Wednesday that he had produced sufficient proof that the repayment of his presidential election campaign debt was above-board and now considered the matter closed. The new finance minister came under widespread criticism for accepting over five million crowns from sponsors to repay the said debt soon after it became known that he would get a lucrative post in the new cabinet. A large part of the money was moreover contributed in cash. The finance minister was forced to reveal the identity of his sponsors who stipulated that the money was a gift from their own private funds and the finance minister was not obliged to them in any way. Prime Minister Jiří Rusnok has accepted the finance minister’s explanation.
Foreign Ministry to open new consulates in Senegal and Burma
The Czech Foreign Ministry is planning to open new missions in Senegal and Myanmar (Burma). Although lately the ministry has closed down a number of foreign missions, including recently the one in Luxemburg, it is hoping to open and re-open a number of them this year in countries that the ministry deems to be of economic significance to the Czech Republic. The mission in Senegal will be operating from the Austrian embassy in Dakar, while the new diplomatic mission in the Burmese Rangoon will have its own offices. Last year, the ministry announced that it will also open consulates in Qatar, Sri Lanka and Colombia in 2013.
Bomb threat on a plane forces evacuation at Prague airport
A flight attendant discovered a note on a plane that had arrived from Leeds at Prague’s Václav Havel airports on Thursday, which said that there is a bomb on the plane, news server Lidovky.cz reported on Thursday afternoon. Travelers were immediately evacuated from the plane and part of the airport was also cleared before the plane was inspected by the police and a bomb squad. No explosive devices were found on the plane. The police are now investigating who could have placed the note, which was written in English, onboard the plane.
Colours of Ostava begins
The twelfth year of the popular Colours of Ostrava music festival has begun in the Silesian city on Thursday afternoon. This year’s festival will feature 46 Czech and 60 foreign bands from 29 different countries. Organizers are expecting at least 60,000 people to attend the official part of the festival as well as the accompanying events happening in the streets of Ostrava until the end of the festival on Sunday. This is the second year that Colours of Ostrava is held in a part of the large former Vítkovice ironworks. The festival began with a concert by an Albanian band Transglobal Underground.
Weather
It will be mostly sunny to partly cloudy in the upcoming days, with daytime temperatures going down slightly from around 28 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees.
17.07.2013 MPs vote against dissolving lower house
Czech MPs on Wednesday voted against the dissolution of the lower house of Parliament. If passed, the motion would have triggered early general elections within the next 60 days. 96 out of the 188 deputies present voted in favour, 92 against. The Social Democrats and Communists supported the motion; however, former coalition parties, the Civic Democrats, TOP 09 and LIDEM voted against. They argue they dispose of a majority in the lower house capable of producing a government, hoping the government of Jiří Rusnok will not win approval from the lower house, and President Zeman will then appoint a Civic Democrat to form the next cabinet.
State attorney drops request for Nečas’s immunity to be lifted
State attorney Ivo Ištvan has dropped a request for the Chamber of Deputies to lift former prime minister Petr Nečas’ immunity so as to allow criminal proceedings to be taken against him in an alleged bribery case. Mr Ištván, who is overseeing the case, said such proceedings could not be taken against the former prime minister or anybody else until the scope of parliamentary immunity was clearly resolved.
The move comes a day after the Supreme Court halted the prosecution of three former MPs charged in the same case. They faced corruption charges over a deal made last November; they were opposed to a government bill but agreed to quit their seats in the lower house in return for lucrative posts in state-run firms. Their arrest in June triggered the fall of the government. However, the Supreme Court said they were covered by parliamentary immunity at the time the alleged offence took place.
Justice minister rejects calls to punish Nečas’ prosecutor
Justice Minister Marie Benešová on Wednesday rejected calls to launch disciplinary proceedings against state attorney Ivo Ištván who is in charge of the Nečas case. Following the Supreme Court’s breakthrough ruling in the case, the former prime minister said proceedings against the state attorney should start immediately. Ms Benešová said she would consult Supreme State Attorney Pavel Zeman before taking a stand on the issue.
President to hold talks on support for Rusnok cabinet
President Miloš Zeman will next week hold talks with political parties represented in the lower house in an attempt to win their support for the interim cabinet. The caretaker government of Jiří Rusnok, appointed by the president last week, is bound to seek approval in the Chamber of Deputies in the coming weeks. However, most parties say they would not support the cabinet in a vote of confidence.
Janoušek trial continues
The trial of influential businessman Roman Janoušek continues in Prague on Wednesday with the court set to hear more witnesses as well as psychology experts. Mr Janoušek is not attending the second day of the proceedings for health reasons. He faces charges of attempted murder related to a hit-and-run incident from last spring. If convicted, he could spend up to 18 years in jail.
Agriculture minister denies reports of family debts
Agriculture Minister Miroslav Toman on Wednesday denied reports of a massive debt incurred by his family firm, Agrotrade. The weekly Respekt reported that the firm got hundreds of millions of crowns in credit from banks, and later transferred its assets to another company, leaving Agrotrade some 600 million crowns in the red. However, Mr Toman said he was stationed abroad at that time, and never served on the company’s board. The firm said it would sue the magazine for an apology and damages.
Man dies of methanol poisoning
A 63-year-old man died of methanol poisoning in a hospital in Kladno on Tuesday, a spokeswoman for the hospital has said. The man was admitted to hospital after he collapsed on Friday. The police believe the man probably became another victim of the methanol crisis which hit the Czech Republic last year when over 40 died after drinking tainted liquor.
Man charged over collecting endangered insects
A man in Slavkov, in southern Moravia, faces eight years in prison for collecting endangered insects, a spokeswoman for the country’s environmental inspection agency said on Wednesday. The man allegedly imported over 430 rare beetles and butterflies from Armenia, Greece, China, Solomon Islands, and other countries, or had them sent in from abroad. He also offered some of them for sale, according to the authorities.
Monument marking destroyed synagogue unveiled in Opava
A monument marking a synagogue destroyed during the infamous Kristallnacht pogrom in 1938 was unveiled in the north-eastern city of Opava on Wednesday. The object consists of two blocks of red granite, the colour of the synagogue’s façade, the author of the monument said. The Opava synagogue, built in the late 1800s, was set on fire by the Nazis during the so-called Night of Broken Glass when over 1,000 Jewish temples were burnt in Nazi-controlled European territories.
Red Army soldier statue returns to Brno central square
A bronze statue representing a soldier of the Red Army returned to Brno’s central Moravské náměstí square on Wednesday, after months of renovation. The statue, erected in 1955 in homage to Soviet troops which liberated the city at the end of WWII, caused controversy in 1993 when communist symbols along with Stalin’s military order were removed from the pedestal.
Crop duster plane crashes into fire pond
A crop duster plane crashed into a fire pond near Žlunice, in eastern Bohemia, on Wednesday, the local fire brigade said. The pilot, who was rescued from the cabin, suffered serious injuries in the accident and was airlifted to hospital. The accident is under investigation; several witnesses said they heard a loud bang before the crash.
Czech team finishes 21st in medal count at Universiade
Czech university athletes won three gold, six silver and seven bronze medals at the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia, to finish 21st in the nations’ medal count. The Czechs won two competitions in judo and one in shooting. The host nation, Russia finished first with 155 gold medals, followed by China and Japan.
Cycling: Kreuziger third after Tour de France’s stage 17
Czech cyclist Roman Kreuziger, of the TST team, finished fourth in stage 17 of the Tour de France on Wednesday, and moved to third place overall. Kreuziger came in 23 seconds behind the winner, Christopher Froome. His team mate Alberto Contador, finished second in the stage.
16.07.2013 Former Civic Democrat MPs not to face trial for bribe-taking
Three former Civic Democrat MPs accused of taking bribes are set to be released and will not face trial. The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that Petr Tluchoř and Marek Šnajdr were covered by parliamentary immunity at the time the alleged offence took place. The verdict also relates to the third former deputy, Ivan Fuksa, who did not petition the court. The decision of the court, which only examined the issue of the MPs’ parliamentary immunity, cannot be appealed. When the three, who were opposed to a government tax bill, quit the lower house last year, the move prevented the fall of Petr Nečas’s cabinet. Soon afterwards they received lucrative positions at semi-state agencies. While the state attorney’s office said that amounted to bribery, Mr. Nečas suggested “I scratch your back, you scratch mine” deals were a regular part of politics.
The ex-deputies were taken into custody a month ago as part of an extensive police operation that also saw the charging of Jana Nagyová, chief aide to then prime minister Nečas, with mediating the alleged bribery and other offences, a situation that led to the fall of his government. The police questioned Mr. Nečas in connection with the matter at the end of last week.
Janoušek tells court he ran over woman accidentally
The trial has begun in Prague of influential businessman Roman Janoušek, who faces charges of attempted murder for allegedly running over a woman last year while in a state of inebriation. He later fled the scene. On Tuesday morning, Mr. Janoušek read a statement to the court asserting that he had not seen the woman and had hit her accidentally. He said that the incident had occurred at a time when the media were carrying transcriptions of wiretaps of his conversations with former Prague mayor Pavel Bém and that this had made him agitated. The wealthy businessman requested that the rest of the trial take place in his absence and refused to answer questions from the court or the state attorney.
Hašek presents conditions under which Social Democrats would support interim cabinet
The deputy leader of the Social Democrats, Michal Hašek, has presented three conditions for his party voting for the interim Czech government, Mladá fronta Dnes reported on Tuesday. At a meeting with Prime Minister Jiří Rusnok, Mr. Hašek said Finance Minister Jan Fischer would have to clear up questions surrounding sponsorship of his failed presidential campaign; the government’s policy programme would have to share the priorities of the Social Democrats; and the government should remain in place only until early elections in the autumn. However, regarding the final condition, Mr. Hašek said that talks on dissolving parliament could continue even after a confidence vote, and a vote on dissolution could be repeated at any time. At present it appears unlikely any such vote would succeed.
Sobotka: Hašek’s conditions only his own opinion
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Social Democrats, Bohuslav Sobotka, has said that Mr. Hašek’s conditions merely represent his own opinion and are not the official position of the party. The news website Novinky.cz quoted Mr. Sobotka as saying that the Social Democrats would only decide on a position, if – as expected – a vote on Wednesday on the dissolution of parliament proves unsuccessful. Mr. Hašek is believed to have closer ties to President Miloš Zeman, who appointed the Rusnok government, than Mr. Sobotka does.
Zeman: Fischer should be as transparent as possible regarding donations
President Zeman says that Finance Minister Jan Fischer should be as transparent as possible when it comes to explaining the origin of the financial donations that cleared his debts arising from an unsuccessful presidential campaign. Mr. Zeman made the comments on Tuesday, a day before Mr. Fischer was expected to provide documentation from his sponsors as to the origin of around CZK 5 million they gave him – much of it in cash – in the week before his appointment. The minister insists his campaign account is transparent and was initially reluctant to discuss the matter. However, he asked the sponsors to show where the money came from after pressure from a number of political parties.
Kuba backs Němcová as electoral leader of Civic Democrats
The acting chairman of the Civic Democrats, Martin Kuba, says he will support Miroslava Němcová becoming the party’s leader for the next election campaign. Mr. Kuba made the comments in an interview for the news website iDnes.cz, adding that the next party congress at which senior positions would be contested was scheduled for after elections likely to take place next May at the latest. The Civic Democrats and the other two parties from the former coalition are pushing for Mrs. Němcová to become prime minister if candidates nominated by the president prove unsuccessful. Mr. Kuba became acting leader following the resignation of Petr Nečas, who was forced to quit as prime minister when his girlfriend was charged with bribery and spying.
City Hall cancels costly plan to renovate Industrial Palace and Výstaviště
Prague councillors have cancelled a costly contract to reconstruct the city’s Industrial Palace and part of the Výstaviště trade fair grounds. The deal, signed by a previous city government, put the price of renovation at over CZK 3 billion, including CZK 200 million for the architectural firm that designed it. A recently installed city government says it wants to find a cheaper way to repair the palace, which was badly damaged by fire five years ago, along with other historical buildings and the grounds. Tuesday’s decision means that the future of Výstaviště, which is a listed landmark, is unclear.
Grebeníček unlikely to return to lower house
Former Communist leader Miroslav Grebeníček has been placed ninth on the party’s list of candidates in the South Moravia region, the news website Novinky.cz reported. The low placing means he will have little hope of winning re-election to the Chamber of Deputies at the next elections. Delegates at the meeting said the move resulted from a wish to rejuvenate the party. However, Mr. Grebeníček, who is 66, said he did not wish to stand in any case. Regarded as a hardliner, he was chairman of the Communist Party from 1993 until 2005. He has held a seat in the lower house since 1996.
Hit lyricist Václav Fischer dies at 87
The Czech lyricist and poet Václav Fischer died on Monday at the age of 87. Fischer received state honours for his participation in the resistance during the war, but was punished for that same activity by the Communists following their takeover; he was sent to an army unit that was effectively a prison camp before being forced to work as a labourer. However, he later became known as the author of the lyrics of a great number of popular songs, including hits by the likes of Waldemar Matuška, Eva Pilarová, Hana Zagorová, Jiří Korn and Olympik. He also wrote a number of illustrated poetry books for children.
Viktoria Plzeň beat Željezničar Sarajevo in Champions League qualifier first leg
The Czech title-holders Viktoria Plzeň beat Željezničar Sarajevo 4:3 at home in the first leg of a Champions League second qualification round tie on Tuesday evening. Plzeň went behind early in the second half when the visitors opened the scoring before eventually taking a 4:2 lead; Željezničar scored again with only five minutes remaining, but the hosts managed to hold out and take all three points. The West Bohemian club reached the Champions League for the first time two years ago and last season topped a group in the Europa League that also included Italy’s Napoli.
15.07.2013 Fischer asks sponsors to clarify source of money donated
Finance Minister Jan Fischer, whose election campaign debts were recently covered by sponsors, has asked them to clarify the source of the money donated. Mr. Fischer said that if this was not done he would return the finances. The finance minister, who incurred a 3.5 million crown debt in the course of his presidential election campaign earlier this year, has come under fire for producing the necessary funds from sponsors, among them large donations in cash, soon after it became known he would get a lucrative position in the new caretaker government.
Czechs step up pressure on Canada over visas
The Czech Republic is stepping up pressure on Canada for the country to lift visa-requirements for Czech nationals. Deputy Foreign Minister Jan Schneider told Monday’s edition of Hospodarske noviny that the Czech side had conditioned its ratification of CETA – the EU’s free trade agreement with Canada – on the lifting of visa restrictions for Czechs. Canada re-imposed visa requirements for Czech nationals in 2009 in the wake of a wave of Romany asylum seekers from the Czech Republic. In 2012 Canada tightened its asylum law, but said it had to test the impact of the new legislation for at least a year before making changes to its visa policy. The Czech Foreign Ministry is hoping for a positive response from Canada within a couple of months at the latest.
TOP 09 to propose amendment limiting president’s powers
TOP 09 has said it will propose an amendment to the Constitution limiting the powers of the president. The centre-right party said on Monday it was ready to consult the amendment with all parties in the lower house and wanted to table it within a fortnights’ time. The move stems from widespread anger over President Zeman’s decision to ignore Parliament and appoint a prime minister designate of his own choice. Both the right and left wing parties are unhappy with the development and accuse the president of setting up his own puppet administration.
MPs racist comment evokes widespread criticism
MP Michal Babák of the Public Affairs party has come under fire from all sides for making an anti-Semitic comment relating to Finance Minister Jan Fischer during a TV debate programme on Sunday. After prefacing his comments by saying they did not contain any racist allusions, Mr. Babák said that no Jew could be worse for the state coffers than Miroslav Kalousek, Mr. Fischer’s predecessor at the Ministry of Finance. The slur has evoked widespread condemnation from both right and left wing deputies in the lower house with calls for Mr. Babák to apologize. Katerina Klasnova, the head of Public Affairs deputies’ group in the lower house said on Monday that Michal Babák’s words were unfortunate.
CASA planes fully operational
The army’s CASA transport planes have successfully passed all flight tests and may now be deployed in foreign missions, Czech Defense Minister Vlastimil Picek told journalists in Prague on Monday. The 3.5 billion crowns purchase of four Spanish CASA transport planes in 2009 has been dogged by problems. The planes’ passive protection system against missiles was found to be defective, failing 7 out of 17 tests and an independent auditor later concluded the purchase had been overpriced. After two years of repairs, fresh tests have now shown that the planes’ protection system is fully operational and the planes’ Spanish supplier is paying the defense ministry 20 million crowns in compensation for the problems.
Five Czechs injured in bus crash in Serbia
Five people were injured, three of them seriously, in a highway accident involving a Czech tourist bus in Serbia in the early hours of Monday. The accident happened southeast of Belgrade at around 3 am. The bus was carrying a group of Czech tourists on their way back from holiday in Turkey. Two of the injured remain in a coma in a hospital in Belgrade. The cause of the accident is being investigated. The driver himself was among the seriously injured.
Nagyová makes brief appearance in court
The former chief of staff of ex-prime minister Petr Nečas, Jana Nagyová, made a brief appearance in court on Monday to give evidence relating to the release of information regarding to the size of her monthly bonuses over a year ago. Two people have been charged in connection with the leak, anti-corruption activist and former head of military intelligence Karel Randák and Lenka Pikorová, a former employee at the office of the government. Jana Nagyova, who has spent the last month in prison on charges of corruption and abuse of office, had little to say in court, claiming she could not remember the size of her monthly bonuses at the time and emphasizing that the charges against Randák and Pikorová for violation of privacy had been brought by the Office of the Government and not by herself. The former prime minister who was also called to testify excused himself, citing family reasons.
MfD: Police monitor Bém’s home over expected robbery of ill-gotten millions
The police monitored the home of former Prague mayor Pavel Bém for nearly a fortnight earlier this year due to suspicions that CZK 100 million arising from alleged criminal activities was going to be stolen from the building, Mladá fronta Dnes reported on Monday. The surveillance operation was ordered by the police’s organised crime unit after it received information that the cash, which was stored in sports bags in the basement of Mr. Bém’s villa, was going to be stolen in mid April, the newspaper said. The theft – which in the end never took place – was allegedly planned by two police officers, who thought that it would not be reported as the money had been acquired illegally.
Country’s first quintuplets set to leave maternity hospital by end of month
The first ever quintuplets born in the Czech Republic should be allowed to leave Prague’s Podolí maternity hospital by the end of this month, iDnes.cz reported. The news website said the infants could go home for the first time to the central Bohemian town of Milovice as three of the five now weigh more than five kilogrammes. A week ago they were moved from incubators to the room of their mother, Alexandra Kiňová, who is 23. There was great media attention surrounding the children’s birth six weeks ago.
Police chase wild boar through three Prague districts
Police chased a wild boar through three Prague districts on Sunday before pacifying the animal in Prague 10. The boar swam across the Vltava river, smashed a window in Hotel Hilton and tore at top speed through the city centre, stopping cars and pedestrians in their tracks. One officer was injured in the 3-hour-long chase and the boar was finally overpowered in Prague 10 where several officers pinned it down until the arrival of animal control.
14.07.2013 “War” with Zeman would be nonsensical, says head of Social Democrats
The chairman of the Social Democrats, Bohuslav Sobotka, says it would be nonsensical to drag his party into a “war” with President Miloš Zeman. Speaking on a TV debate show, Mr. Sobotka said that would weaken the Social Democrats and was just what rival parties wished to see. The head of Mr. Zeman’s office, Vratislav Mynář, recently described Mr. Sobotka as weak for allegedly being inconsist. The latter said on Sunday that Mr. Mynář was a public servant and ought not to be politically active. While Mr. Sobotka has in the past said that the dissolution of parliament is the only way forward in the current political situation, some elements of his party believed to have closer ties to the president (who formerly headed the Social Democrats) have suggested they should consider voting for an interim cabinet backed by the president if a vote on dissolving the lower house fails next Wednesday.
Babák makes apparent anti-Semitic comment relating to Fischer
MP Michal Babák of the Public Affairs party made an apparent anti-Semitic comment relating to Finance Minister Jan Fischer during a TV debate programme on Sunday. After prefacing his comments by saying they did not contain any racist allusions, Mr. Babák said that no Jew could be worse for the state coffers than Miroslav Kalousek, Mr. Fischer’s predecessor at the Ministry of Finance. The deputy had earlier said that Public Affairs would only back the interim government in a confidence vote if Mr. Fischer thoroughly explained the financing of his failed presidential campaign. In the week prior to his appointment he received over CZK 5 million in donations from sponsors, allowing him to clear campaign debts. Since then the minister has refused to discuss the matter.
Schwarzenberg suggests Zeman attempting to usurp power
The former Czech foreign minister, TOP 09 chairman Karel Schwarzenberg, has suggested that the recent actions of President Miloš Zeman, who appointed an interim government despite the wishes of some parliamentary parties, represent an attempt to usurp state power. In an interview for an Austrian newspaper on Sunday, Mr. Schwarzenberg compared Mr. Zeman’s interpretation of the constitution to that of the Nazis in Germany in 1933 and the Communists in Czechoslovakia in 1948. Michal Hašek of the president’s former party the Social Democrats called for an apology from Mr. Schwarzenberg, who Mr. Zeman defeated to become head of state in an election in January.
České Budějovice mayor calls on Romany leaders to help ease tensions
The mayor of České Budějovice has called on residents of a district of the city which has recently seen violent anti-Romany protests to contribute to a reduction in racial tension. Juraj Thoma told Czech Radio that his office had attempted to persuade Romany leaders to encourage quieter behaviour; he said they should understand it was unpleasant for people to go to work in the morning after having to call the police at midnight because of high noise levels. On Saturday dozens of protesters were detained as they tried to enter the Romany-dominated Máj housing estate. Tensions were sparked when a fight broke at a children’s playground there last month.
Chair of energy authority gets police protection after motorway attack
The chairwoman of the Energy Regulatory Office, Alena Vitásková, has been provided with police protection after an attack on her while she was driving, the news website Týden.cz said. She reported that another driver had attempted to force her car off a motorway in April. The police and the secret service are investigating the incident. Under Ms. Vitásková’s leadership, the energy authority has launched extensive audits and investigated alleged inflated solar power prices; she has also been critical of a financial support for bio-fuel stations that are due to be connected the national grid next year.
Sunday marks 200th anniversary of birth of traveller Paclt
Sunday marks the 200th anniversary of birth of the pioneering Czech traveller Čeněk Paclt. Born in Turnov in east Bohemia on 14 July 1813, Paclt was the first Czech to visit all the globe’s inhabited continents. He fought with the U.S. army in the Mexican-American War and was a gold miner in India and Australia before dying in South Africa at the age of 73.
Maslák sets new Czech record in 200 metre at U23 championships
Sprinter Pavel Maslák has set a new Czech record in the 200 metres. Maslák recorded a time of 20.49 seconds in the 200m final at the European Athletics Under 23 Championships in Finland’s Tampere on Saturday, a result that also secured him a bronze medal. Prior to the meeting, the 22-year-old from Havířov had a personal best of 20.59 seconds in the event.
13.07.2013 Sobotka calls on Fischer to quit cabinet over financing of presidential campaign
Social Democrats’ chairman Bohuslav Sobotka says Jan Fischer should step down as finance minister in the interim Czech government over alleged opaque financing of his presidential campaign. In interviews with a number of Saturday’s newspapers, Mr. Sobotka said Mr. Fischer’s remaining in office could be an insurmountable hurdle for the Social Democrats in a vote of confidence in Jiří Rusnok’s caretaker cabinet. Jan Fischer received over CZK 5 million in donations from sponsors, much of it in cash, in the week prior to his appointment, allowing him to clear debts arising from an unsuccessful presidential campaign earlier this year.
Zeman hopes to persuade parliamentary groups to back caretaker cabinet
President Miloš Zeman, who chose Mr. Rusnok as interim prime minister, has invited the heads of the groups in parliament for talks at Prague Castle in a bid to win support for the government. The first such meeting should take place on July 22. A vote of confidence in the caretaker cabinet is expected on August 8. While it had initially appeared unlikely that the government could win such a vote, the parties elected to the lower house are divided on how to proceed and some Social Democrats have indicated they may give the government the nod if a vote to dissolve parliament next Wednesday is unsuccessful.
Nečas admits to romantic involvement with aide charged with spying and corruption
Former prime minister Petr Nečas has confirmed speculation that he is involved in a romantic relationship with his erstwhile chief of staff Jana Nagyová. She is in custody on charges relating to corruption and ordering illegal spying on Mr. Nečas’s estranged wife and was at the centre of a scandal that led to the fall of his government last month. The ex-PM told the newspaper Právo that he stands by Ms. Nagyová and foresees a future with her. He himself was questioned on Friday by the police, who say he secured lucrative positions for former MPs for his party in exchange for political favours; their case hinges on whether that amounted to corruption.
Anti-Roma event in České Budějovice called off but protesters later gather
An anti-Romany demonstration scheduled to take place in the south Bohemian city of České Budějovice on Saturday afternoon was called off at the last moment. The organisers, who had originally said they expected around 1,000 participants, evidently decided to abandon the protest when it became clear turnout would be far lower. Later in the day an estimated 300 people gathered near a children’s playground in a district of České Budějovice largely populated by Romanies where tensions first broke out; they attempted to breach a police cordon but were outnumbered.
Seven injured when train hits truck
Seven people were injured in the eastern city of Opava on Saturday morning when a local train crashed into a delivery truck at a level crossing without barriers. The train, which was running from Bruntál to Opava Východ, was derailed during the collision. None of the injuries are regarded as serious.
Prague man puts neighbours in danger with suicide bid
A 52-year-old Prague man has been taken into psychiatric care after releasing gas in his apartment with a view to committing suicide. He phoned a helpline on Friday evening saying he was expecting to die once an explosion took place. However, his actions could have threatened the lives of the other residents in his building in the Břevnov district. The police and rescue workers managed to get to him before an explosion occurred.
Jablonec beat Plzeň to win season curtain raiser
Last term’s Czech cup winners Jablonec beat league champions Viktoria Plzeň 3:2 on Friday in the Super Cup, the curtain raiser for the 2013–2014 soccer season. The result means that Jablonec coach Roman Skuhravý has already picked up two trophies since being appointed in May. This year’s Super Cup game was the fourth since the competition’s inception. The first round of the top flight season takes place next weekend.
12.07.2013 Ex-PM strongly condemns police investigation of his government
Former prime minister Petr Nečas has strongly condemned the police investigation of alleged corruption in his government. Speaking to reporters after being questioned by investigators on Friday, Mr Nečas said the investigation was a “fabricated political case”, and the state attorney overseeing the case was acting “wilfully”. The former cabinet leaders also said he would not step down as MP despite the fact the police has asked the lower house to strip him of his parliamentary immunity so that he can be prosecuted.
Petr Nečas stepped down as prime minister last month after the police arrested his chief of staff, Jana Nagyová, and three former MPs for his party, the Civic Democrats. The authorities believe the MPs were corrupted when they accepted posts in state run-firms in return for giving up their seats in the lower house to make way for government legislation. Ms Nagyová also allegedly tasked the country’s military intelligence with spying on Mr Nečas’ wife.
Record amounts of marihuana, methamphetamine confiscated in 2012
The Czech authorities last year confiscated record amounts of marihuana and methamphetamine, according to an annual report by the country’s anti-drug agency. In total, 563 kg of marihuana and nearly 32 kg of methamphetamine was confiscated in 2012. The police also registered an increase in the number of indoor marihuana growing operations while methamphetamine labs, mainly located in the border areas, increased their production. Last year, the police uncovered 199 marihuana grow ops, and confiscated over 90,000 marihuana plants. Most of the illicit drug was destined for the domestic market; however, large quantities were also to be exported to Ukraine, Hungary, the UK, and Scandinavia, the report says.
Justice Ministry files Dahlgren extradition request at US embassy
The Czech Justice Ministry Friday filed extradition request to the US embassy in Prague for US citizen Kevin Dahlgren who is wanted in the Czech Republic over four murders, a spokeswoman for the ministry said. The request was filed a day after the ministry received the respective documents from Brno prosecutors. Twenty-year-old Kevin Dahlgren is suspected of murdering a four-member family he was staying with in Brno in May. He then fled to the US where he was detained upon arrival and has since remained in custody.
New environment minister backs Temelín expansion plan
The new environment minister, Tomáš Podivínský, has backed plans to expand the Temelín nuclear power station. Speaking to reporters after a visit to the plant on Friday, Mr Podivísnký said the planned construction of two new blocks was important for the country’s energy stability. While critics say it would be highly unprofitable to go ahead with the plan under current electricity prices, the minister said the energy market was distorted by subsidies for renewable sources of energy.
The state-owned energy firm ČEZ is planning to pick the winning bid for the multi-billion project this autumn; however, it’s not clear whether the caretaker government will award the contract, or whether the process will be concluded after the next general election.
President Zeman nominates judge for Constitutional Court
President Miloš Zeman has nominated the chief justice of Prague’s Municipal Court, Jan Sváček for judge of the Constitutional Court, a spokeswoman for the Senate said. Mr Sváček was nominated by then-president Václav Klaus but Senators did not approve him for the post. Since his inauguration in March, Miloš Zeman has nominated eight candidates for the top court, seven of whom were approved.
Czech woman murdered in Chicago
A 24-year-old Czech woman was murdered in the US city of Chicago at the end of last month, a spokeswoman for the Czech Foreign Ministry said on Friday. The woman was reportedly stabbed and strangled to death in her apartment on the night of June 24. The homicide is under investigation by the Chicago police; however, it has affected the Czech community in the city and even led to disputes at the Czech general consulate in Chicago after one of its employees was fired for having provided unauthorized information. The Czech ambassador to the US, Petr Gandalovič, is set to visit the city at the end of July in an attempt to calm the situation.
Brno faces major public transport disruptions
The city of Brno faces major disruptions of its public transport system due to the renovation of a railway bridge in the centre of the city. Between July 14 and August 11, local and express trains will not stop at Brno’s Main Station but instead at the stations Brno-Židenice and Brno-Královo Pole. Passengers travelling to central Brno are advised to use buses and trams. Sections of several tram and trolleybus lines will also be closed due to reconstruction work during the summer.
Education Ministry confirms accreditation for troubled Plzeň law school
The Education Ministry on Friday confirmed accreditation for the law faculty of West Bohemia University in Plzeň. The school can now admit students into its three- and five-years’ programmes. Plzeň law faculty was in 2009 hit by a scandal when it turned out that many of its graduates took very little time to earn degrees. However, the ministry’s accreditation agency said situation at the school had improved.
Police call off search for missing 1980s pop star
The police on Friday called off a search for missing 1980s pop star Iveta Bartošová, a police spokeswoman said. The police are in touch with the 47-year-old singer although did not reveal her whereabouts. Ms Bartošová, who reportedly suffers from alcohol addiction, has been missing since Saturday, when a friend drove her from her home to unknown location.
Hrady.cz music festival kicks off
The ninth annual Hrady.cz music festival, which travels to eight mediaeval Bohemian and Moravian castles, kicks off on Friday at the Točník castle in central Bohemia. This year the festival’s line-up includes the band Kryštof, the signer-songwriter Tomáš Klus, Aneta Langerová, Pipes and Pints, and others. The festival concludes at the Moravian castle Bouzov at the end of August.
Teenage swimmer sets national women’s 100-metre butterfly record
Lucie Svěcená, a 15-year-old Czech swimmer, has set a new national women’s 100-metre butterfly record. She finished the race in 59.73 seconds at the Junior European Championships in Poland on Friday, becoming the first Czech woman to cover the distance in less than one minute. 18-year old Czech swimmer Jan Micka took two gold medals at the championships when he finished first at 400-metre and 1,500-metre free style.
11.07.2013 New ministers assume posts
All 14 ministers in the freshly sworn-in Czech government have assumed their posts. On Thursday, Dalibor Štys took over at the Education Ministry, said he would not go ahead with a reform of the university system planned by his predecessor unless it gets sufficient political backing. The government officials inducted into office on Thursday included Minister of Labour and Social Affairs František Koníček, Justice Minister Marie Benešová, Health Minister Martin Holcát, and others.
Police charge third person over anti-Roma rally
The police on Thursday charged a third person in connection with last weekend’s anti-Roma rally in the southern city of České Budějovice, a police spokesman said. A 20-year-old man faces charges for assaulting a police officer with a glass bottle. Another two people were charged earlier this week for hurling stones and assaulting officers. The police also said they believe the organizer of the previous anti-Roma rally in České Budějovice broke the law when he called on participants to walk on a local housing estate where some Roma families live.
Jailed MP refused permission to take part in key vote
Jailed MP David Rath will not be allowed to participate in a lower house vote on the dissolution of parliament, a court in Prague has ruled. Mr Rath, who was arrested in May 2012 on corruption charges, asked to be allowed to take part in the vote, which is scheduled for July 17 and would trigger snap elections if passed. Mr Rath’s attorney said his client wanted to support the motion.
Imported Polish chicken meat tests positive for antibiotics
The authorities have discovered antibiotics in a shipment of Polish chicken meat, a spokesman for the Czech Veterinary Administration said. In total, 1,200 kg of tainted meat has been ordered off the shelves. The authorities said most of the meat had already been distributed to shops in eastern Bohemia.
Banking association cuts economic forecast for 2013-07-11
The Czech Banking Association on Thursday cut its economic forecast for 2013. It now predicts an 0.8 percent contraction of the country’s GDP, down from the 0.2 percent the association predicted in April. The report cites an unexpected drop in GDP in the first quarter of this year as the main reason for the revision; however, the authors said the economy should start recovering moderately towards the end of the year when quarter-on-quarter growth is expected.
EU court slams Czechs over railway directive
The EU’s Court of Justice on Thursday ruled that the Czech Republic had failed to meet its obligations arising from an EU railway directive. The court criticized the maximum fees set by the Czech Finance Ministry for using railway infrastructure, as well as a lack of incentives for the infrastructure’s operator to cut costs. Under EU law, the Czech authorities are obliged to implement the findings as soon as possible or face penalization.
Senator sues Transparency International
Senator Tomio Okamura has filed a criminal lawsuit against the Czech branch of the anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International. Mr Okamura accused the group of breaching the law by conducting unauthorized business activities and providing inaccurate financial reports. The senator also said TI sponged off public funds. Last year, the watchdog criticized Mr Okamura over non-transparent financing of his presidential campaign.
NATO’s air forces to participate in Czech-based excerice
The air forces of 19 NATO members are set to take part in the annual Ramstein Rover exercise held in the Czech Republic in September, the Czech Army said. This year, the exercise will focus on practising cooperation of tactical aircraft and helicopters with forward air controllers, with a view to fulfilling their tasks in NATO’s ISAF mission in Afghanistan, the army said.
Number of road deaths lowest since 1970
Two hundred and 36 people died on Czech roads between January and June this year, which is the lowest number for that period of the year since 1970, the police said on Thursday. Nearly 40,300 traffic accidents occurred in the first six months of 2013, which was some 1,200 more than in the same period last year. Poor driving and speeding were the most frequent causes, according to the police.
Police investigate doctor who treated patients while drunk
The police in Karlovy Vary are investigating a case of a physician who treated his patients while drunk, a police spokesman said. A 51-year-old doctor was reportedly treating patients with 2 per mille of alcohol in his blood, the police said, without giving any further details.
Tiger skeletons uncovered at Prague airport
Police sniffer dogs uncovered two tiger skeletons concealed in wooden speaker boxes at Prague airport, the Czech Environmental Inspection said. The skeletons were probably on their way to a country in Asia where they could fetch some 24,000 US dollars, according to the inspectors. The police are looking for the owners of the contraband, who could face up to three years in jail.