Czech News 7.11.2013 -1.11.2013

CR: 7.11.2013 National Bank starts monetary intervention

The Czech National Bank launched the first monetary intervention since 2002 on Thursday afternoon. The bank’s council announced that it is aiming to lower the value of the crown to around 27 for one euro. Immediately after the announcement, the crown dropped from 25.8 to the euro to 26.63. Although there have been speculation about possible intervention for the last few months, many analysts have been surprised by the move, given that it did not seem necessary at this point, given the recent trade balance figures. The national bank’s council also voted not to change the interest rate.

BIS warns of growing influence on public institutions

The Czech counter-intelligence service (BIS) has warned of the growing problems with public tenders. In their annual report, released on Thursday, the agency points out that it has repeated noted irregularities with the way public tenders were held. A common element in most of the cases, the report states, was the presence of informal ties between employees of public institutions and people who stood to profit from rigged procurement proceedings. The report also warns of possible social and political instability due to the growing frustration and anger at ineffective public institutions among some members of the public.

Prague transit authority fined for metro line expansion

The Transport Ministry has ruled that Prague’s transit authority had broken the law when selecting a company for the expansion of the A line of the city’s subway system. The ministry has decided not to dispense 4.2 billion crowns of the 15.6 billion which were allotted for the project from EU funding. According to the news server Aktuálně.cz, this is the biggest de facto fine in the history of EU structural funds.

Audit office makes recommendations on lowering road work costs

The Czech Supreme Audit Office has put out a joint analysis with its German counterpart of the prices of road constructions in the two countries. The results, which were published on Thursdazy, show that the construction of one kilometer of a road is more than 25 percent more expensive than in Germany. The report also made recommendations, which are meant to save up to 20 percent of the costs. Based on the experiences of the neighboring country, the Czech audit authorities recommend having a greater number of open tenders as well as breaking up large projects into smaller parts, and giving them to different companies. The report claims that if these rules were used, for example, in the construction of the Prague ring road, it would have saved the Road Authoritz at lest 790 million crowns.

Moravian Social Democrats are open to cooperation with Communists

At a regional meeting of the Social Democratic party in Moravian-Silesian region, two-thirds of the delegates voted to repeal the Bohumín resolution, which has prohibited the party from entering into a coalition with the Communist party on the national level. The resolution, which has been in effect since 1995, can be voted down only at the full-party convention. Some of the local members in the Moravia-Silesian region say a coalition the Communists would permit the Social Democrats not to compromise on their platform. The party’s vice chairman Lubomír Zaorálek, though, has said that the Bohumín resolution is not a prevalent issue at a time of internal struggles in the Social Democratic party.

Health minister slams media reports about president’s health

The head of a team of doctors overseeing the health of the president, Health Minister Martin Holcát, reacted strongly on Wednesday to speculation by some media that a recent injury suffered by President Zeman was alcohol-related or that the president had collapsed in his home and fallen unconscious. Mr Zeman has been ordered to rest after suffering a late-night fall in which he injured his knee. He is expected to rely on a wheelchair for several weeks and has remained outside the public eye. The health minister slammed what he referred to as dishonest reporting and said as a result he would from now ob only issue written press releases on the president’s health, which he said was improving.

Number of tourists has increased, but not enough

There were almost five million people staying in Czech hotels and pensions in the fourth quarter of this year, which is two percent more than at the same time last year. The number of both local and international tourists have increased, according to the Czech statistical office. Overall, the most tourists visited the Olomouc region, where their number increased by around 12 percent. Although the slight increase in encouraging, the Czech Republic’s tourist industry has fared a bit worse than other countries in the region, where the number of tourists this year increased by around eight percent.

Poland to close green borders for two weeks

Polish authorities have announced that as of Friday green borders with the Czech Republic will be closed for 15 days, as part of increased security measures ahead of the UN conference on climate change which will be held in Warsaw starting on 11 November. The green borders running between national parks in the Krkonoše and other mountain ranges. Travelers and hikers will now have to go through official border crossings in order to get into Poland.

“Germans” novel wins Josef Škovercký award

This year’s Josef Škvorecký literary prize has been awarded to Jakuba Katalpa for her novel “Germans”. The 100-thousand crown prize, named after the famous Czech émigré writer and publisher, is awarded annual for the best work of new fiction in Czech. There were six finalists this year, instead of the usual five, which included well-known writers like Ivan Binar and Petra Hůlová. “Germans” is the fifth novel published by Jakuba Katalpa, whose real name is Tereza Jandová. The novel also received the Czech Book Prize this year.

ATP World Tour: Berdych downs Ferrer in straight sets

Top Czech tennis player Tomáš Berdych reignited his chances of continuing beyond the group phase of the ATP World Tour Finals: on Thursday he defeated Spain’s David Ferrer in straight sets. The final score was 6:4, 6:4. Berdych had lost his opening match to Stanislas Wawrinka; but, he will face world No. 1 Rafael Nadal next. Berdych lost in his last 15 appearances against Nadal, last defeating him in 2006.

Weather

It should be cloudy with some rain in the coming days. Temperatures are expected to reach up to 13 degrees Celsius.

6.11.2013  Babiš suggests he may not be part of new cabinet

Andrej Babiš, the head of the ANO movement that may enter a new coalition government with the Social Democrats and the Christian Democrats, said on Wednesday it is not a necessity for him to join the cabinet and that he would not apply for a screening certificate which President Miloš Zeman set as a condition for ministerial candidates. Mr Babiš told journalists that he wants to wait until a Slovak court decides on his exoneration claim in January. The Czechoslovak Communist secret police (the StB) kept a file on Mr Babiš, who they listed as a collaborator. Babiś, born and raised in Slovakia, has denied ever collaborating with the StB.

Government proposes daily hospital fees of 60 crowns

The interim government of Prime Minister Jiří Rusnok has agreed on a proposal lowering the cost of hospital stays by 40 crowns per day. Currently, patients are charged 100 crowns daily. Under the proposal, youths under the age of 18 would no longer be required to pay at all. The prime minister urged Parliament to pass the amendment quickly or risk hospital stay fees being discontinued completely on January 1, 2014 per a decision by the Constitutional Court. A lowering of the fees to 60, if passed, would see revenues amassed under the system drop by as much as 1 billion crowns from the current 2.1 billion.

Czech Republic to provide monetary aid to countries with Syrian refugees

The Czech Republic will send 50 million crowns to aid countries which have seen a massive influx of refugees from Syria, including Bulgaria and Turkey, the Rusnok cabinet agreed on Wednesday. The funds are to be covered by the Interior Ministry. Outgoing Interior Minister Martin Pecina is currently in Turkey and met with his counterpart, presenting him with a cheque for half-a-million euros (roughly 12.9 million crowns) to go towards humanitarian aid. Turkey has around 600,000 Syrian refugees. Earlier, the Czech foreign ministry provided 22 million crowns. Twelve Syrian patients have also received medical treatment in the Czech Republic.

Klaus was not told he would feature in bloc billboards

Former Czech president Václav Klaus has admitted in an interview for the student news site iList (run by students from Prague’s University of Economics) that he didn’t know support which he expressed for the right-wing bloc Hlava Vzhůru! (Heads Up!) led by fellow euro sceptic Jana Bobošíková would translate in his photo being used on billboards in the recent elections. The bloc suffered a debacle when Czechs went to the polls at the end of October, receiving only 0.4 percent of the vote – far below the five percent needed to make it into the lower house of Parliament. In the interview, Mr Klaus maintained that critical views of the EU such as Bobošíková’s were needed and admitted that he himself had considered trying to either rebuild the Civic Democratic Party or form a new group, but had gauged there was too little time ahead of the elections to launch a proper platform and campaign.

Suspect charged with murders of 17-year-old girl and grandfather

The police have charged a 31-year-old suspect with the murders of a 17-year-old girl and her grandfather in the village of Raškovice in south Moravia on Tuesday. Both were shot and killed when he attacked them at their home; the man’s wife was hurt and is in serious condition. The man, who had no previous charges, was reportedly the girl’s teacher. An additional six weapons were found at the suspect’s home, as well as 6,000 rounds of ammunition. If he is found guilty he could face an exemplary sentence of 20 years in prison.

Two arrested in Vysočina in connection with grow shop raid

Police in the region of Vysočina have charged two people with the promotion of using illegal substances, part of a broader raid at grow shops, selling equipment which can be used for the growing of marijuana. In the Vysočina region, officers conducted checks at two brick-and-mortar stores and investigated three online shops, all in - or with headquarters in - Jihlava and the area of Žďár. Materials worth an estimated one million crowns were seized. The police have not released additional details.

Czech scientists uncover unknown plant in Borneo

An expert team from Olomouc’s Palácký University’s Faculty of Science discovered an unknown plant species in Borneo, university representatives have revealed. The plant, which researchers had named Thismia hexagona, was found by accident, after a student member of the team lost his footing on wet ground. Martin Dančák of the university’s Department of Ecology & Environmental Sciences described the appearance of the plant as “very bizarre at first sight” – not green, a seemingly leafless stalk leading most often with a single bloom and little tentacles. Thismia hexagona ranks among mycoheterotrophic plants, i.e. non-green plants without Chlorophyll. Unlike most such plants, he said, it was not parasitic.

Workers discover unexploded WW II bomb

A crew working on restoring an historic house in Opava, which is protected as a national heritage site, on Wednesday afternoon uncovered an unexploded bomb dating back to WW II. Four hundred people, including from two schools, had to be evacuated from nearby before a bomb expert was sent in.

Study: Only one third of batteries bought in CR recycled

Czechs recycle only a third of the batteries they use, according to a study conducted for the non-profit group ECOBAT. Half of those surveyed said they had never recycled a battery. Almost 120 million new batteries are sold in the country every year, with over a thousand tonnes of batteries ending up in dustbins annually.

Plzeň lose to Bayern Munich in Champions League

Viktoria Plzeň lost 1:0 to title holders Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Plzeň had been beaten 5:0 by the Germans two weeks ago but this time put in a much stronger performance, with goalkeeper Matúš Kozáčik coming in for particular praise. The West Bohemians lie at the bottom of their group with zero points in four games.

 6.11.2013  PPF takes over telecommunications firm Telefonica Czech Republic

The PPF investment group has signed a deal to buy a majority stake in Telefonica Czech Republic. In a statement, PPF said it was spending almost CZK 64 billion to acquire 66 percent of the shares in the country’s biggest telecommunications company. The contract still has to be considered by the Czech anti-trust authority. The acquisition includes Telefonica Czech Republic’s daughter company Telefonica Slovakia. PPF is controlled by Petr Kellner, the Czech Republic’s richest man.

Babiš says he currently sees no reason to apply for screening certificate

The leader of ANO Andrej Babiš says he has not yet applied for a screening certificate that would confirm he had not collaborated with the StB secret police under communism. Mr. Babiš’s party came second in general elections and he would need what is called a lustration certificate if he is to become a government minister. On Tuesday he said he as yet had no reason to apply for one. The Slovak-born billionaire is engaged in a legal battle with a Slovak newspaper which reported that he had collaborated with the StB. The agency that handles the country’s StB files says the secret police registered him as an agent in 1980, a charge Mr. Babiš strongly denies.

Zeman: Trying to keep meeting secret “comical”

President Miloš Zeman has for the first time spoken about a secret meeting at his residence that preceded an attempt to remove the leader of his former party, the Social Democrats. In an interview with Právo, Mr. Zeman said the talks had been instigated by people around Michal Hašek, who spearheaded the subsequent move against party chairman Bohuslav Sobotka. Mr. Hašek in particular has been pilloried for denying the meeting took place only to later admit it had happened, and the president said it was “somewhat comical” that the participants had tried to keep the meeting under wraps. The Social Democrats came first in recent elections and the president says he will task their nominee with forming a government.

Minister: President getting better but will need to remain in wheelchair several weeks

President Zeman has not been seen in public for several days after sustaining a knee injury in a fall. The head of a team of doctors looking after him, Health Minister Martin Holcát, told the news site Novinky.cz that his condition was improving. Mr. Holcát said Mr. Zeman was trying out crutches, though he will have to remain in a wheelchair for several weeks. The minister said the president was extremely exhausted, denying media reports that his condition was the result of alcohol or a stroke.

Rusnok: No more dismissals of senior civil servants without my say-so

The interim prime minister, Jiří Rusnok, has ordered his ministers not to make any more dismissals of senior civil servants without his approval, Hospodářské noviny reported. Mr. Rusnok told the newspaper that stability was required. In less than four months since the caretaker cabinet was installed, ministers have replaced close to 100 deputies and managers. There has been speculation Mr. Rusnok’s team will remain in place until the New Year, when an elected government would be appointed.

Girl and grandfather shot dead in Moravian village

A man has been arrested in connection with the shooting dead of a17-year-old girl and her grandfather in the village of Raškovice in south Moravia. The girl’s grandmother was seriously injured in the attack, which took place on Monday evening. There have been reports that the man being questioned in connection with the killings, who is 31, was the girl’s teacher. He is reported to have been wearing a bullet-proof vest and carrying three legally held weapons during the attack.

Czech TV Council urged to investigate claims of political interference

The Czech Television Council has received a call to investigate a petition signed by journalists who say there has been political interference in their work, Aktualne.cz reported. A letter to the council signed by the groups FITES and PEN Club and well-known figures such as Hana Marvanová and Matěj Hollan expressed disquiet over the situation at Czech TV, where 23 journalists last week said the public broadcaster's news had been influenced by a senior editor in favour of Miloš Zeman and his associates.

Number of whooping cough cases highest since 1960s

The number of registered cases of whooping cough in the Czech Republic so far this year is 880, which is the highest number seen in five decades. An epidemiologist from the State Health Institute revealed the figures on Tuesday. Six people have died of whooping cough in the Czech Republic in recent years; two were elderly and two others were infants that had not yet received shots against the illness. Inoculation is compulsory for children.

Plzeň hosting Bayern Munich in Champions League

Viktoria Plzeň are preparing to host title holders Bayern Munich in a Champions League game on Tuesday night. Plzeň were beaten 5:0 by the Germans in their last Champions League game two weeks ago and have taken zero points in three group matches, having also lost to Manchester City and CSKA Moscow. A win for Bayern would put them through to the knockout stage.

 5.11.2013 PPF takes over telecommunications firm Telefonica Czech Republic

The PPF investment group has signed a deal to buy a majority stake in Telefonica Czech Republic. In a statement, PPF said it was spending almost CZK 64 billion to acquire 66 percent of the shares in the country’s biggest telecommunications company. The contract still has to be considered by the Czech anti-trust authority. The acquisition includes Telefonica Czech Republic’s daughter company Telefonica Slovakia. PPF is controlled by Petr Kellner, the Czech Republic’s richest man.

Babiš says he currently sees no reason to apply for screening certificate

The leader of ANO Andrej Babiš says he has not yet applied for a screening certificate that would confirm he had not collaborated with the StB secret police under communism. Mr. Babiš’s party came second in general elections and he would need what is called a lustration certificate if he is to become a government minister. On Tuesday he said he as yet had no reason to apply for one. The Slovak-born billionaire is engaged in a legal battle with a Slovak newspaper which reported that he had collaborated with the StB. The agency that handles the country’s StB files says the secret police registered him as an agent in 1980, a charge Mr. Babiš strongly denies.

Zeman: Trying to keep meeting secret “comical”

President Miloš Zeman has for the first time spoken about a secret meeting at his residence that preceded an attempt to remove the leader of his former party, the Social Democrats. In an interview with Právo, Mr. Zeman said the talks had been instigated by people around Michal Hašek, who spearheaded the subsequent move against party chairman Bohuslav Sobotka. Mr. Hašek in particular has been pilloried for denying the meeting took place only to later admit it had happened, and the president said it was “somewhat comical” that the participants had tried to keep the meeting under wraps. The Social Democrats came first in recent elections and the president says he will task their nominee with forming a government.

Minister: President getting better but will need to remain in wheelchair several weeks

President Zeman has not been seen in public for several days after sustaining a knee injury in a fall. The head of a team of doctors looking after him, Health Minister Martin Holcát, told the news site Novinky.cz that his condition was improving. Mr. Holcát said Mr. Zeman was trying out crutches, though he will have to remain in a wheelchair for several weeks. The minister said the president was extremely exhausted, denying media reports that his condition was the result of alcohol or a stroke.

Rusnok: No more dismissals of senior civil servants without my say-so

The interim prime minister, Jiří Rusnok, has ordered his ministers not to make any more dismissals of senior civil servants without his approval, Hospodářské noviny reported. Mr. Rusnok told the newspaper that stability was required. In less than four months since the caretaker cabinet was installed, ministers have replaced close to 100 deputies and managers. There has been speculation Mr. Rusnok’s team will remain in place until the New Year, when an elected government would be appointed.

Girl and grandfather shot dead in Moravian village

A man has been arrested in connection with the shooting dead of a17-year-old girl and her grandfather in the village of Raškovice in south Moravia. The girl’s grandmother was seriously injured in the attack, which took place on Monday evening. There have been reports that the man being questioned in connection with the killings, who is 31, was the girl’s teacher. He is reported to have been wearing a bullet-proof vest and carrying three legally held weapons during the attack.

Czech TV Council urged to investigate claims of political interference

The Czech Television Council has received a call to investigate a petition signed by journalists who say there has been political interference in their work, Aktualne.cz reported. A letter to the council signed by the groups FITES and PEN Club and well-known figures such as Hana Marvanová and Matěj Hollan expressed disquiet over the situation at Czech TV, where 23 journalists last week said the public broadcaster's news had been influenced by a senior editor in favour of Miloš Zeman and his associates.

Number of whooping cough cases highest since 1960s

The number of registered cases of whooping cough in the Czech Republic so far this year is 880, which is the highest number seen in five decades. An epidemiologist from the State Health Institute revealed the figures on Tuesday. Six people have died of whooping cough in the Czech Republic in recent years; two were elderly and two others were infants that had not yet received shots against the illness. Inoculation is compulsory for children.

Plzeň hosting Bayern Munich in Champions League

Viktoria Plzeň are preparing to host title holders Bayern Munich in a Champions League game on Tuesday night. Plzeň were beaten 5:0 by the Germans in their last Champions League game two weeks ago and have taken zero points in three group matches, having also lost to Manchester City and CSKA Moscow. A win for Bayern would put them through to the knockout stage.

4.11.2013 Speculation regarding president’s health

There has been speculation regarding the state of President Miloš Zeman’s health in the wake of a bad fall last week. The president injured his knee after tripping in his apartment at night and is expected to be bound to a wheelchair for several weeks. His chief doctor, Health Minister Martin Holcát said the president’s condition was stabilized and he was being nursed by nuns. Mr. Holcát rejected speculation, which appeared in the weekly Týden on Monday, that the president was in a much more serious condition after reportedly having suffered a stroke.

President Zeman says new ministers will be required to produce clean screening certificates

President Zeman has said he expects all ministers in the country’s new cabinet to produce clean screening certificates. According to a law passed shortly after the fall of communism, all senior civil servants must undergo security screening to prove that they didn't collaborate with the former communist secret police. Although the legislation does not apply to government ministers former presidents have always enforced this condition. President Zeman’s spokeswoman Hana Burianová told Lidové Noviny that the present head of state would do likewise. The paper notes that this is undoubtedly a message for the leader of the ANO party, food magnate Andrej Babiš who is fighting to clear his name in Slovakia after appearing on the list of stb collaborators. A Slovak court is expected to rule on the case in January of next year at the earliest, the paper says.

Sobotka says demand for screening certificates should not pose a problem

Social Democrat leader Bohuslav Sobotka, whose party won the elections by a small margin and who is expected to lead coalition talks on forming the next government said on Monday he did not expect the president’s demand for screening certificates to pose a problem. Mr. Sobotka noted that the party or parties involved in setting up the next government would naturally be held accountable for the names of ministers they put forward. He said that either way the first round of talks usually focused on programme compatibility rather than personnel matters.

Police crack down on grow shops around the country

Police have cracked down on grow shops around the country. A police spokeswoman told Czech Radio on Monday that the operation had been planned for months ahead and confirmed that police were confiscating fertilizers, lamps and other equipment that make it possible to grow plants indoors. The stores are associated primarily with home cannabis cultivation. The police is expected to release more information on Tuesday.

ANO moves to prevent party-hopping

The ANO party of food magnate Andrej Babiš has moved to prevent party-hopping, a fairly frequent occurrence in Czech politics. According to the internet news site aktualne.cz newly elected deputies for the party were asked to sign a code of ethics according to which a change of party allegiance would cost them the equivalent of a month’s salary. The code also bans them from employing family members as assistants. The party leadership has said that money collected in fines for violating the code would be donated to charity.

PPF and Telefonica deal ready for signing

The Czech financial group PPF and Spain´s Telefonica have made a deal on PPF´s takeover of a majority stake in Telefonica CR and the document may be signed any day, a well-informed source told the CTK news agency on Monday. The Financial Times reported earlier that the price of the 69 percent stake changing hands is put at 2.5 billion euro (64.6 billion crowns). After PPF signs the deal it is expected to offer to buy the remaining 31 percent, Financial Times wrote. This would raise the price of the contract by 1 billion euro (25.9 billion crowns) and Telefonica CR would be fully in private hands. As a result its shares would be withdrawn from public markets. Spain´s Telefonica is the largest provider of telecoms services in Europe and is also the number one operator in the Czech Republic. Its debts have made it sell some of its operations.

Health Ministry proposes amendment to law on hospital fees

The Health Ministry has proposed an amendment to the law on hospital fees which was invalidated by the Constitutional Court in July of this year. The ruling, which invalidated the 100 crown fee per day per patient, means that as of January 1, patients will not be asked to contribute anything to hospital care. Hospitals say this will create a serious financial problem. The Health Ministry, which has proposed bringing the fee down to 60 crowns per day, has urged the government and parliament to debate the proposed amendment in a state of legislative emergency which would allow it to come into force as of March next year.

Most Czechs never holiday in exotic locations

Seventy-five percent of Czechs have never holidayed in an exotic location, according to the results of a survey conducted by the NMS agency. Three percent of Czechs said they picked exotic destinations for every holiday while 9 percent they enjoyed this luxury occasionally. The most popular destinations are currently Thailand, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and the United Arab Emirates. On average such a holiday costs 40,000 to 50,000 crowns per person.

Czech Republic’s largest lottery jackpot goes to one winner

The Czech Republic's largest jackpot of 400 million went to one winner in the Sportka lottery game, Vaclav Friedmann, a spokesman for the Sazka lottery company told the CTK news agency. The company does not yet know when and where the bet was placed. Sazka registered 78 new millionaires this year. Winnings paid out to them exceeded one billion crowns.

Wawrinka beats Berdych at ATP World Finals

Stanislas Wawrinka claimed a three-set victory over Tomas Berdych in the opening game of the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena in London. Impressive serving helped the Swiss take the first set, but a resurgent Berdych capitalised on Wawrinka's errors in the second-set tie-break. However, Wawrinka turned on the style in the decider for a 6-3 6-7 (7-0) 6-3 victory in two hours and 25 minutes.

3.11.2013  Olomouc chief prosecutor says no further action possible against former MPs

Olomouc Chief Prosecutor Ivo Ištván has said he does not believe there are grounds on which to renew corruption charges against three former Civic Democrat MPs who were suspected of accepting bribes in return for allowing the former centre-right government to survive. The three are believed to have laid down their mandates in return for lucrative posts in state owned companies. Although the Olomouc chief prosecutor appeared confident that he had the evidence needed to prove their guilt two separate rulings by the Supreme Court have gone in the former deputies’ favour. The court ruled that Petr Tluchoř, Marek Šnajdr, and Ivan Fuksa cannot be prosecuted for alleged corruption since their actions were covered by parliamentary immunity – both in and outside the Chamber of Deputies. The chief prosecutor said that such a broad interpretation of parliamentary immunity effectively ruled out further charges.

Milan Chovanec says he offered to resign from party leadership

Social Democrat deputy chair Milan Chovanec, one of the party rebels who attempted to oust Bohuslav Sobotka from the party leadership last week, told Czech television on Sunday that he had offered Mr. Sobotka his resignation from the party leadership and that the offer had been refused. Chovanec said he was still ready to resign if it would help renew communication and restore unity within the party. The foiled coup against the party leader is being debated by the party’s regional branches and there have been calls for all five rebels to leave the party leadership. Party leader Sobotka has taken a benevolent line with Mr. Chovanec who was the first to speak out about a secret meeting with the president, helping to turn the situation around in favour of the embattled leader.

Štech urges president to speak out about secret meeting

The chairman of the Senate, Social Democrat Milan Štech has urged President Miloš Zeman to speak out about the purpose of a secret meeting he had with deputy heads of the Social Democratic Party in the absence of party leader Bohuslav Sobotka. The meeting, held shortly after the results of the country’s early general elections were announced, is widely regarded as the cue to an attempted coup against the Social Democrat leader. President Zeman who had a number of supporters within the party led by deputy chair Michal Hašek, has not commented on the meeting.

Globus to start charging for plastic bags

The supermarket chain Globus, the only big retailer still offering plastic bags free of charge, has announced a change of policy as of next year. A company spokesperson for Globus said shoppers in the Czech Republic had become more environmentally conscious and now was a good time to abandon the practice. The chain is currently handing out approximately 40 million plastic bags a year. Hypermarkets such as Tesco and Albert, which started charging for plastic bags a few years ago, say the demand for disposable bags dropped by a half as a result.

Children’s corners at shopping malls doubling as nursery schools

More than five thousand parents in Prague failed to enrol their child in a nursery school which presents a serious problem for mothers who want to go back to work after spending time on maternity leave, the internet news site idnes.cz reports. The report says some mothers have taken drastic measures and are leaving their children at supervised children’s corners in shopping malls for as long as five to six hours a day in order to be able to work part-time. Children’s corner supervisors at Zličín, Chodov and Černý Most have confirmed the report saying it presents a serious problem since these corners do not afford a place where children can eat or rest and merely serve as supervised playgrounds.

Police investigating post-office robbery

The police are searching for an armed robber who stole 100,000 crowns from a post office on the western outskirts of Prague on Saturday. The man threatened employees with a pistol and hand-grenade and made off with all the cash available at the post office ahead of closing time. The police have released the man’s description and asked potential witnesses to come forward.

Petrof to open company museum

The world-renowned Czech piano maker Petrof is opening a museum on the company’s premises documenting the history of Petrof piano making. The museum will open to the public on Tuesday marking 150 years since the company was established in Hradec Kralove. On display will be twenty rare pieces, among them a piano made by Josef Petrof in 1882 and a pianola (self-playing piano) from 1929. Petrof annually sells over 1,500 pianos to 60 countries worldwide. The company currently employs 220 people.

2.11.2013  Former transport minister charged and released

Former transport minister and Public Affairs leader Vít Bárta who is being investigated by police in connection with information leaks from the police force has been charged and released. Mr. Bárta was released on Friday evening after spending 24 hours in detention. The police have imposed an information embargo on the case and Vít Bárta himself has refused to comment apart from telling journalists he was innocent of the charges against him. According to the internet news site idnes.cz the Public Affairs leader, who once owned the biggest detective agency in the land, has been charged in connection with information leaks of police wiretappings of conversations between the former Prague mayor Pavel Bém and influential Prague businessman Roman Janoušek. The head of the information division of the anti-corruption police Jan Petržílek has also been questioned and charged in connection with the case.

Internal disputes at Czech TV following censorship allegations

Over a dozen Czech TV reporters have stood up for the head of the station’s news desk Zdeněk Šámal who may allegedly be sacked over claims of censorship. Sixteen news reporters signed a petition in support of Šámal following roumours that he was to be sacked for reportedly censoring news reports in favour of President Miloš Zeman and the Party of Citizens’ Rights –Zemanites. Emotions have been running high at Czech public television after two dozen news and currently affairs reporters sent a letter of complaint to the Czech Television Council claiming independent and impartial reporting was at stake and their bosses were bowing to political pressure. Sixty other employees have disclaimed the reports. The head of Czech public television Petr Dvořák has said he will get independent auditors to investigate the matter.

Plzen branch of Social Democrats supports party leader

The Plzen branch of the Social Democrats has expressed full support for party leader Bohuslav Sobotka, who this week survived an attempt to oust him from office. The party chair in turn took a benevolent stance to Milan Chovanec, one of the five rebels who met with President Milos Zeman shortly after the elections allegedly to plan the ouster. He later reconsidered his position and publicly admitted the meeting had taken place, forcing the others into similar admissions and turning the situation around in favour of the embattled leader. Mr. Sobotka said that while Chovanec had retained his respect for speaking out, the other four rebels could no longer be trusted and could not expect posts in high office.

Vysočina branch of Social Democrats calls on rebels to resign

Support for the Social Democrat leader has also come from the Vysočina branch of the party which on Saturday called on all five rebels to resign from their posts in the party leadership. The Vysočina regional branch also called for an extraordinary party conference to be held as soon as possible in order to clarify the party’s course in the wake of last week’s power struggle.

Environment minister under fire for scrapping consulting services department

Environment Minister Tomas Podivínský’s decision to scrap a ministerial department providing consulting services to firms and consumers has evoked widespread criticism, with experts arguing that it runs counter to EU trends in this field. The abolished section dealt, among others, with environment-friendly labels that help consumers find healthy products in shops. Ministry spokesman Matyáš Vitik said the agenda would continue to be handled at the ministry but would be divided among the remaining sections. NGOs working in the field say other departments and sections have suffered a similar fate in the past three years and accuse the government of gradually downgrading the ministry’s role.

Czechs mark All Souls day

Traditionally on the first weekend of November millions of Czechs pay their respects to departed friends and relatives. Cemeteries around the country are awash with candles and flowers as families undertake an annual pilgrimage to family graves, often travelling for hours to reach their destination. In the evening masses are held for the departed. In Prague Cardinal Dominik Duka will serve a special mass at the Sts Peter and Paul Basilica at Vyšehrad.

Meteorologists warn of high winds

Meteorologists have issued a warning of high winds with a force of 90 to 110 km across the Czech Republic on Sunday. Drivers have been warned to exercise extreme caution and mountain rescue services have advised people against mountain hiking on that day. The warning is valid between 8am and 17 pm on Sunday.

01.11.2013  Former transport minister arrested together with senior police officer

The police on Thursday arrested former transport minister and Public Affairs leader Vít Barta together with the head of the information division of the anti-corruption police Jan Petržílek. According to the internet news site Ceskapozice.cz the arrests were made in connection with an ongoing investigation into information leaks from the ranks of the police. Earlier speculation in Novinky.cz which broke the story that the arrests were linked to the appointment of Petr Lessy police president has proved unsubstantiated.

The Globe and Mail questions Jelínek’s appointment

The Globe and Mail has voiced reservations regarding the appointment of Czech-born Otto Jelínek as Canada’s ambassador to the Czech Republic. The paper says the communist refugee, world-champion figure skater and Mulroney era cabinet minister returned to the Czech Republic in 1994 where he spent 18 years and developed a wide range of business and personal connections which questions his ability to represent and advocate for Canada. The Globe and Mail moreover points out that Mr. Jelínek was associated with a still unresolved corruption scandal linked to the suspect acquisition of fighter jets for the Czech military.

Interior Ministry targeting slums

The Interior Ministry wants to station specially trained police officers in the country’s slums, according to a report presented to the government on Friday. The move comes in the wake of rising petty crime in poverty-ridden areas of the country and growing tension between its inhabitants and the majority population. There are presently between 300 and 400 slums in the Czech Republic with an estimated 80,000 inhabitants, the greater part of them Romanies. It is not clear how many specialists would be needed but the ministry envisaged training around 50 a year.

Controversy at Czech TV following censorship allegations

There is controversy at Czech public television following claims of censorship made by a number of employees. Twenty-one journalists, including the news deputy head Adam Komers have sent a letter of complaint to the Czech TV council, claiming that news bulletins and current affairs reports are censored in favour of President Miloš Zeman and the Party of Citizens’ Rights –Zemanites. Meanwhile over 60 others, including the stations most popular current affairs anchor Vaclav Moravec, have disputed the claims signing a proclamation in which they rule out any manipulation or pressure. The head of Czech public television Petr Dvorak has said he will get independent auditors to investigate the matter.

Police crack down on ID forgery ring

Police around Europe have cracked down on an international ring producing false identity papers for several countries, detaining 26 people. Seven people were detained in the operation on Czech territory and six have been charged with forgery and money-laundering, including three Armenian nationals who reportedly headed the operation. False IDs were sold to Germany, Austria, France, Norway and Sweden for the price of 300 to 600 euro apiece.

South Moravian branch of Social Democrats to decide rebels’ fate on Monday

The South Moravian branch of the Social Democrats will meet on Monday to discuss the fate of three of the five party rebels who publicly lied about a meeting with President Miloš Zeman at which they are believed to have planned to oust party leader Bohuslav Sobotka. The attempt to remove Mr. Sobotka from the head of the party failed and the rebels involved were publicly humiliated. The governor of South Bohemia Jiří Zimola has already resigned from the party leadership, the others say they want to defend themselves on home ground and will respect the recommendation made by their regional party branch.

State budget deficit grows to 47.7 billion crowns in October

The Czech state budget deficit grew to 47.7 billion crowns in October from September´s 38.2 billion, according to a Finance Ministry report released on Friday. It is the best result for October since 2008. The state budget deficit for 2013 has been projected at 100 billion crowns but Prime Minister Jiří Rusnok said last month that thanks to money from EU funds, the budget gap this year could be much lower than projected.

Late Jiří Hájek not awarded by president over son’s behaviour

The late Jiří Hájek, a leading member of the Czech dissent and one of the first spokespersons of Charter 77 was not decorated on October 28th as planned because his son refused to take part in the official ceremony and to receive the decoration from President Miloš Zeman, the Office of the President confirmed on Friday. The president’s spokeswoman said the president considered Jíří Hájek Jr’s request that it should be sent by post insulting. Hájek Jr made it clear that he did not want to participate in the prize-awarding ceremony at the Prague Castle because he was critical of President Zeman's activities. Rock singer and musician Vladimir Mišík also refused to receive the state decoration from the president.

British police prevent sham marriage between Czech and Pakistani nationals

Police in Blackburn say they prevented a sham marriage between a Pakistani man and a Czech woman on Thursday. The Pakistani whose residence permit in Great Britain had expired is to be deported. The 25-year-old Czech woman was released after undergoing police questioning. Six Czech nationals were detained in Wolverhampton this week on suspicion of being part of a sham marriage ring in the UK.

Section of C- line to close down for maintenance

The section between Kačerov and Háje on the C line of the Prague metro will be closed for track maintenance for the first two weekends in November, the Prague city transport authority has announced. The closures will take place from Friday evening 6pm till early Monday morning. Replacement busses will be available along the given stretch. Information will be available at each station in English and German.