Czech News 29.5.2014 - 21.5.2014

CR: 29.5.2014

Senate rejects one of three of president’s candidates for top court

The Senate has rejected one of President Miloš Zeman’s candidates for the post of Constitutional Court judge, Jiří Nykodým. While serving previously as a Constitutional Court judge, the lawyer played a role in the rejection of a complaint taken against a controversial church restitution bill last year. The president will now have to find a new candidate. Two others were made Constitutional Court judge in a secret vote at the Senate on Thursday: Vojtěch Šimíček and Tomáš Lichovník.

Study: Roma represent 28 percent of pupils at schools for children with learning difficulties

Children from the Roma minority represent 28 percent of the pupils at schools for those with learning difficulties, according to a survey carried out for the national school inspectors’ body. Deputy Education Minister Jindřich Fryč presented the results of the study at an international conference about Romany education in Prague on Thursday. Responding to the figures, the minister for human rights, Jiří Dienstbier, told the Czech News Agency that the Czech Republic was failing when it came to inclusive education.

Former Charles University president Hampl to run for Senate

A former president of Charles University, Václav Hampl, has announced plans to stand for a Senate seat later this year. Mr. Hampl will run as an independent backed by the Christian Democrats and the Greens. The physiologist said he would draw on his eight years of experience at the helm of Charles University. He was involved in some political disputes in that period, protesting against education reforms proposed by then minister Josef Dobeš and clashing with President Miloš Zeman over the naming of a professor. A third of the Senate’s 81 seats will be contested in the latter half of 2014.

Dawn would not return to Parliament but Greens would reach threshold, poll suggests

The populist Dawn party would not make it back into Parliament if elections were held now, suggests an opinion poll carried out by the ppm factum agency. By contrast, the Green Party, who failed to make the five percent threshold in October’s elections, would win seats in the lower house, the poll indicates. ANO, who came second, would now finish first with 22.5 percent of the vote, ahead of October’s winners the Social Democrats, who would now receive 19.4 percent.

Some rivers still swelling but flood warnings scaled back

Persistent rain in the Czech Republic is continuing to cause some rivers to swell. Among them is the Berounka, which flows into the Vltava. Fears that the latter will also rise have led to quays in Prague being closed as a preventative measure. People in the Plzeň region, around Mladá Bolesav and in Jeseník have seen some water damage but latest reports say the situation in those areas is becoming calmer. Forecasters have scaled back flood warnings, with the lowest level of flood alert now in place in only four regions.

Study warns of long term drought threat

Although floods are in the news, preparations are being made at the Ministry of Environment to cushion the effects of a disastrous drought caused by climate change. A large swathe of the Czech Republic including some of the most fertile agricultural land across the centre of the country could be threatened according to a report which will go to the government, the daily Mladá fronta Dnes reported on Thursday. It pointed out that the costs of a drought in Western Europe last year was almost as high as the bill for floods in Central Europe in 2002. Proposals for dealing with a Czech drought include a tenfold increase in water charges for those who exceed consumption limits.

Around fifth of Czechs have cigarette habit, says representative of group helping smokers quit

More than two million people smoke cigarettes in the Czech Republic, according to Jarmila Greplová, a representative of Život bez cigaret, a group that helps smokers quit. The country’s population is 10.5 million. Speaking to the Czech News Agency ahead of Saturday’s World No Tobacco Day, Ms. Greplová said one in eight Czech smokers was under 18. An estimated 18,000 people die of smoking related illnesses in the Czech Republic every year.

Treasures from National Theatre’s music archive to go on display

The National Theatre in Prague is preparing to exhibit valuable items from its musical archive as part of the ongoing Year of Czech Music. The handwritten manuscripts of two operas by Bohuslav Martinů, and the original scores of works by Antonín Dvořák and Leoš Janáček that received their world premieres at the theatre are among the treasures that will be on display on the balcony on the first floor of the historic building from Monday until September, a representative told journalists on Thursday.

More foals of rare Przewalski breed born at Prague zoo

Two foals of the rare Przewalski breed have been born at Prague zoo in the last week, a spokesperson said on Thursday. A colt was born on Saturday and a filly on Wednesday. The births bring to over 220 the number of Przewalski foals born in Prague. In the last three years a dozen of the horses have been introduced to the wild in their country of origin, Mongolia. Another transport of Przewalski horses from Prague is planned for this year.

28.5.2014

Flood warnings remain in west Bohemia

Heavy rain and flooding results in almost 400 call-outs for firemen across the country on Tuesday. The most calls for help came from the Prague, the Moravia-Silesia, Central Bohemia and the Ústí regions with frequent demands to pump out flooded cellars. Sixteen people were evacuated at the eastern town of Rychnov nad Kněžnou as the river level rose. River levels were at level three danger level around the Western town of Rokycany on Wednesday.

Total of impoverished and deprived Czechs falls but still over 1.5 million

Around 1.5 million Czechs are faced with poverty or material deprivation according to survey results released Wednesday by the Czech Statistical Office. The actual proportion of the population threatened with poverty actually fell last year to 8.6 percent from 9.6 percent, the office said. That total includes around 45 percent of those without jobs. The office said that although average household incomes rose in absolute terms last year they fell in real terms once higher costs were taken into account. The total facing material deprivation, defined as lacking basic household equipment, came to around 679,000.

State employees promised 3.5 percent wage hike next year

Wages of state employees including teachers should rise by 3.5 percent next year according to an agreement reached at the weekly Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. According to a report by the news server iDnes, minister of interior Milan Chovanec said that talks about the level of pay rises for police and firemen will continue with. Finance Minister Andrej Babiš had been looking to keep the wage raise lower. Christian Democrats have already achieved one of their goals on Tuesday with an agreement for more generous tax breaks for families with children.

State aid for Lego’s Kladno expansion cleared

State incentives have been cleared for the Danish firm Lego to invest 1.73 billion crowns in the extension of its plant at Kladno on the outskirts of Prague. The government aid totals 46 million, around 5.0 percent of the total spending on the project to add production, warehouse, and administrative space to the current site. Around 600 extra jobs should be created by the time the work is completed in 2017.

Germans sentenced for murder of Prague taxi driver

Two Germans were sentenced on Wednesday for the murder of a 39-year-old Prague taxi driver in front of a Prague cemetery in June last year. The younger of the two was given a 10 year sentence with the co-defendant given a life sentence at the Tübingen court in Southern Germany. The prosecution said both men had come to Prague to kill and had professed interest in Satanism and Vampirism. The taxi driver was killed by blows from a wrench and hatchet.

Court sets 15 million crown bail for methanol spirits defendant

A court in Olomouc On Wednesday allowed a man accused in a methanol scandal trial to be bailed from prison on payment of 15 million crowns. The bail was set for Tomás Březina, e the brother of the alleged head of the hard spirits mafia, Radek. Bail was agreed to in part because Tomás Březina has cooperated with police and spilled a lot of the beans on how the hard spirits business, including a massive underground storage facility, operated.

Coalition to choose European Commissioner after budget outline agreement, says Sobotka

The coalition government will only start talks on choosing the Czech Republic’s next European Commissioner after the parties have agreed on the parameters of next year’s budget, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka told reporters. Mr. Sobotka’s Social Democrats have put forward Pavel Mertlík, a former finance minister, while ANO are backing Pavel Telička, who was a temporary European Commissioner in 2004, and the Christian Democrats have nominated MEP Zuzana Roithová. There have been suggestions another, compromise candidate may be sought. The prime minister has said he hopes to see agreement on an outline 2015 budget by the end of the week.

Documents and recollections of Edvard Beneš head for publication

Documents and recollections of the head of office and friend of former Czechoslovak president Edvard Beneš, Jaromír Smutný, are being prepared for publication, the daily paper Mladá fronta Dnes reported on Wednesday. The more than 8,000 documents covering the birth of Czechoslovakia at the end of WWI, Beneš’ exile in London during WWII and communist putch of 1948 have been stored at New York’s Columbia University since Smutný’s death in 1964. Some extracts were published Wednesday, the 130th anniversary of Beneš‘ birth.

Triple Olympic medal winner Ondřej Moravec named Czech biathlonist of year

Ondřej Moravec, who earned three medals at February’s Winter Olympics in Sochi has been named Czech biathlonist of the year. Moravec, who is 29, finished ahead of Gabriela Soukalová and Jaroslav Soukup in the poll of members of the Czech Biathlon Union. Ondřej Rybář, who coached a Czech team that enjoyed unprecedented success at the Olympics, was presented with the trainer of the year award at a ceremony at Prague’s SaZaZu venue on Tuesday night.

Tomáš Plekanec helps Montreal Canadiens clawback

In ice hockey, Czech forward Tomáš Plekanec has helped keep alive the Stanley Cup hopes of the Montreal Canadiens. Plekanec scored in the 7:4 victory over the New York Rangers bringing the series to 2:3 in the best of seven semi-final confrontation. The sixth match in the series takes place in New York on Thursday.

27.5.2014

One-time senior labour ministry officials get jail terms

A Prague court has handed a former deputy minister of labour and social affairs a six-year jail term for attempted blackmail. Vladimír Šiška was found guilty of offering a software company a contract worth at least CZK 100 million if it withdrew a complaint it had lodged at the anti-trust authority against the ministry. Then minister Jaromír Drábek stood down over the matter; he was close to Mr. Šiška and had previously co-owned a company with him. Mr. Šiška’s co-defendant Milan Hojer, who headed the ministry’s IT department, got five years behind bars for his part in the affair.

Government to increase tax credits for parents of more than one child

The coalition parties have agreed to increase tax credits for parents with more than one child. Next year parents will be able to deduct more from their tax returns for second and third children. While the Christian Democrats, who strongly back the change, want the credits to rise even further in future years, the minister of finance, Andrej Babiš of ANO, said it was only possible to discuss changes in the short term as it was impossible to predict how the economy would develop. At present parents get a monthly tax credit of over CZK 1,100 for every child; in 2014 there will be CZK 200 more for a second child and CZK 300 more for a third.

Zeman welcomes Gašparovič on final visit to Prague before leaving office

Prior to leaving office next month, the Slovak president, Ivan Gašparovič, has paid a final visit to his Czech counterpart, Miloš Zeman in Prague. On Tuesday Mr. Gašparovič presented Mr. Zeman with his country’s highest honour, the Order of the White Double Cross. Having invited his guest to a hunt at his Lány residence, the Czech head of state gave Mr. Gašparovič hunting boots and binoculars. Mr. Zeman said it was a pity his counterpart was departing and that he had been a friend to the Czech Republic.

Study: Czech Republic has one of highest rates of methamphetamine use in Europe

The Czech Republic has one of the highest rates of methamphetamine consumption in Europe, according to a study carried out for the journal Addiction and published on Tuesday. Prague’s waste water showed the strongest traces of methamphetamine in a comparison involving 42 European cities. Another Czech city, České Budějovice, placed second in the study. Prague was ranked 14th in terms of the amount of THC, which is found in cannabis, in its waste water, and 15th with regard to traces of ecstasy. Methamphetamine is known locally in the Czech Republic as pervitin.

Backing of former TOP 09 supporters helped Free Citizens into European Parliament, finds study

The Free Citizens’ Party – one of six Czech groupings that won seats in the European Parliament in elections last weekend – attracted votes from people who backed TOP 09 in October’s general elections, suggests a study of voting patterns released by the group KohoVolit.eu. The Pirate Party, who were less than one percentage point away from taking a seat, took votes from the Green Party, according to the study. The Communists and the Christian Democrats had the highest percentage of votes from people who also supported them in the general elections. By contrast, ANO, who came first in the Euro elections, lost many previous voters to smaller parties.

Václav Klaus welcomes low voter turnout in European elections

The country’s leading Eurosceptic, former president Václav Klaus expressed satisfaction over the low voter turnout in elections to the European Parliament in the Czech Republic late Monday. Mr. Klaus told Czech Television that the 18.2 percent turnout was a clear indication that Czechs were not interested in the European Union and were aware that the EU was not run according to democratic principles. Mr. Klaus said the real winners of the European elections were the 82 percent of people who ignored them. In response to the outcome of the vote across Europe, the former Czech head of state noted that the success of Eurosceptic parties would mean only a marginal change.

Heavy storms cause flooding of cellars and roads

The Czech Republic was hit by severe storms on Tuesday, with heavy rain and hail flooding cellars and roads. In Prague fire officers were called out to deal with flooding at around two dozen spots, including the basement of the National Library, the vestibule of Můstek metro station and a theatre. More heavy storms are forecast for Wednesday.

Functionalist Mánes art gallery to reopen Wednesday

The Prague art gallery Mánes is set to reopen after a two-year renovation on Wednesday with an exhibition of works by caricaturist and illustrator Ivan Steiger. Restaurant and office spaces at Mánes are still awaiting building approval, with its operators saying they would like to open the entire complex to the public in the summer. The Functionalist structure hosted the 80th birthday party of President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk in 1930, the year it opened with a show looking back at a century of Czech art.

Popular ‘90s band Lucie return to stage after 10-year gap

The popular Czech rock band Lucie have returned to the stage after a 10-year gap. The group played the first show of a reunion tour in front of 6,500 fans in the Slovak city of Košice on Monday night. Lucie – who were one of the country’s most popular bands in the 1990s – have sold over 100,000 tickets for the comeback tour. Two additional shows have been organised in Prague due to high demand.

Vrba calls up players from Czech league for Austria friendly

The manager of the Czech national soccer team, Pavel Vrba, has mainly selected players from the Czech league for a friendly game against Austria in Olomouc next Tuesday. Striker Matěj Vydra of England’s West Bromwich Albion is the only foreign-based call-up. Among the 18-man squad are three uncapped young players: Jiří Fleišman from Liberec, Lukáš Hejda of Plzeň and Jablonec’s Jan Kopic.

26.5.2014

ANO comes first among Czech parties vying for seats in European Parliament

The ANO movement, headed by businessman turned politician Andrej Babiš, came first among Czech parties running in the European Parliamentary elections. ANO gained 16.12 percent of the vote, which translates into four mandates followed by the opposition right-wing TOP 09 which won 15.95 percent, likewise gaining four mandates and the Social Democrats of the ruling coalition came third with 14.17 percent, for which they will also get four seats. Another four parties passed the five percent threshold needed to win seats in the European Parliament: the Communists (10.98%), the Christian Democrats (9.95%), the Civic Democrats (7.67%) and the Free Citizens’ Party (5.24%).

In the Czech Republic, a record 38 parties and movements fielded 849 candidates for 21 seats in the 751-strong assembly. However there was a record low voter turnout - 18.2 percent of Czech voters cast their ballot in the European elections.

Czech media: Politicians to blame for low voter turnout

The Czech media are blaming the country’s politicians for the low voter turnout –a mere 18.2 percent of Czech voters cast their ballot in the European elections. The daily Mladá fronta Dnes notes Czech politicians have failed to explain to voters the workings of the EU and the impact that decisions made in the European Parliament have on everyday life in the Czech Republic. Consequently, Czechs are identifying themselves less than ever before with the EU and scepticism regarding the alliance is on the rise, the paper says. Lidové Noviny points to the paradox that the new European Parliament will have greater powers than ever before, while having a lower legitimacy because of widespread voter disinterest.

Green Party leader steps down over poor showing in European elections

The head of the Green Party Ondřej Liška has resigned as party leader in the wake of the party’s poor showing in the European elections. The party received 3.7 percent of the vote, failing to cross the five percent margin needed to win seats. Mr. Liška said he was deeply disappointed by the low voter turnout, saying it was a reflection of the state of Czech and European politics. In over a decade Czech politicians have not been able to explain to voters what EU integration is good for, the Green Party leader noted.

Political parties to negotiate on joint candidate for EU commissioner

Political parties will soon start negotiating on a joint Czech candidate for the post of EU commissioner. The ANO party of the ruling coalition is hoping that its election victory will give it an advantage in pushing through its candidate for the post, the country’s first EU commissioner Pavel Telička. However Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said on Monday that no single party had won an emphatic victory which would give it special privileges in this respect and that the matter would be debated not only among the ruling parties but consulted with the opposition in order to achieve as broad a consensus as possible.

ANO leader: Election result confirms we are politically stable force

The leader of the ANO party which came first in elections to the European Parliament says the election result confirms that his party is a politically stable force on the domestic scene. Psychologically, this is an important indicator and driving force for us, Mr. Babiš said, adding that he attributed his party’s victory to the fact that ANO had put experts on its election ticket while others had sought to find plum jobs for side-lined politicians. Mr. Babiš said the country’s 21 MEPs should cooperate closely to further Czech interests.

Social Democrat leader: Party damaged by low voter turnout

Prime Minister and Social Democrat leader Bohuslav Sobotka said the low turnout had reflected on the party’s performance in the elections. The Social Democrats defended 7 seats in the elections but only won four. Mr. Sobotka said his party has had a long term problem in convincing its supporters to vote in European elections and it was clear that the party’s sympathises had seen no reason to go to the polls. At the same time, the prime minister said he was pleased that all three ruling parties had won seats in the European Parliament and that according to his calculations 15 of the country’s 21 MEPs would be pro-European.

State to save money on contributions due to low voter turnout

The state will pay out an overall 42.5 million crowns to parties who won at least one percent of the vote in elections to the European Parliament. The amount of public finances distributed will be much lower than expected due to the low voter turnout. ANO which got over over 244,000 votes will get 7.3 million crowns from state coffers, and TOP 09 which came second will also get over 7 million crowns. The Social Democrats who finished third will get 6.4 million. The state contribution amounts to 30 crowns per vote.

Czech President congratulates newly-elected Ukrainian leader

Czech President Miloš Zeman has congratulated business tycoon Petro Poroshenko on his emphatic victory in Sunday’s presidential elections in Ukraine. In a letter to Mr. Poroshenko, President Zeman stressed the need for a peaceful solution to the drawn-out Ukrainian crisis and wished Ukraine’s newly elected head of state success in bringing such a solution about.

Czech forward Jaromír Jágr retires from international hockey.

Legendary Czech forward Jaromír Jágr confirmed he was retiring from international hockey on Sunday shortly after the national team’s defeat by Sweden at the Ice Hockey World Championships. The Czech Republic finished outside the medals in the tournament, losing 3-0 in the bronze medal match. Jágr played for his country five times at the Winter Olympics, including the 2014 Sochi Games, and eight times at the World Championships. He won Olympic gold in 1998 and bronze in 2006 and gold at the Worlds in 2005 and 2010. The 42-year-old forward will continue to play in the NHL after resigning for one year with the New Jersey Devils.

Meteorologists issue storm warning

Meteorologists have issued a storm warning for the upcoming 48 hours. A cold front moving from the west is expected to bring heavy storms with hailstones in places, high wind and heavy rain which may swell smaller rivers. The belt of rain should hit Bohemia on Tuesday afternoon and move eastwards to Moravia and Silesia on Wednesday.

25.5.2014

ANO has come first among Czech parties vying for seats in European Parliament

The ANO movement, headed by businessman turned politician Andrej Babiš, has come first among Czech parties running in the European Parliamentary election. In the Czech Republic, a record 38 parties and movements fielded 849 candidates for 21 seats in the 751-strong assembly. Several polls had indicated in days prior to the vote that ANO was the front-runner but one survey put centre-right opposition party TOP 09 in front.

The results were nevertheless close: ANO finished with 16.12 percent of the vote, which translates into four mandates and TOP 09 gained 15.95 percent, likewise four mandates.

The ruling coalition leaders, the Social Democrats, finished third with 14.17 percent. Another four parties passed the five percent threshold to make into the European Parliament: the Communists (10.98%), the Christian Democrats (9.95%), the Civic Democrats (7.67%) and the Free Citizens’ Party (5.24%).

Some of the successful candidates on the ballot who won seats include Pavel Telička (ANO), Jiří Pospíšil (TOP 09), Jan Keller (Social Democrats), Kateřina Konečná (Communist Party), and Michaela Šojdrová (Christian Democrats).

Ukrainians in Prague and Brno vote in Ukraine's presidential election

Hundreds of Ukrainian nationals waited calmly in lines in front of the Ukrainian embassy in Prague as well as the Ukrainian consulate in Brno on Sunday to cast their vote in Ukraine’s presidential election. The polls remain open until Sunday evening. Ukrainians are electing a new head-of-state following months of unrest after the ousting of former president Viktor Yanukovych. Pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country have reportedly managed to violently disrupt voting in areas.Ukrainians rank among the largest minorities in the Czech Republic: the number of eligible voters in the Czech capital is 14,437 and there are an additional 3,268 in the Czech Republic’s second-largest city.

Czech national hockey team finishes outside of the medals at the Ice Hockey World Championships

The Czech national hockey team finished outside of the medals at the Ice Hockey World Championships on Sunday, losing to Sweden in the bronze medal match. Although the Czechs were active throughout, hitting the post twice and deflecting a shot which hit the opposing goaltender’s mask, they were not able to get on the scoreboard. For the second-straight game they lost 3:0. Sunday’s match may be Jaromír Jágr’s last for the national squad: the legendary player told TSN some time ago that the would not be back next year. In 2015, the worlds are being held in Prague and Ostrava.

Prague 7 referendum results invalid due to low voter turnout

The results of a referendum in Prague 7 which proposed two options on the future of gambling terminals and venues in the district are not valid due to low voter turnout. Only 25.2 percent of locals came to the polls - well short of the minimum 35 percent needed. The referendum presented two options: one of curbing the number of existing venues, the other, of introducing an outright ban. Of those who came to the polls, 3,330 people voted in favor of reducing gambling venues from 26 to 20, while 6,666 voted for ‘zero tolerance’. Even a conclusive result would still have needed approval from Prague City Hall.

Website: fewer Czechs consuming hard liquor

Czech alcohol producers are continuing to suffer lean years, Czech news website iDnes reports. The number consuming hard liquor has dropped steadily over the last decade, with the market further suffering in 2009 due to the world economic crisis and in 2012 when the country was hit by widespread methanol poisoning, forcing the government to instate temporary prohibition. Domestic brands especially have suffered with many buyers opting for established imports. While last year the number of those drinking hard liquor went up by three percent, the figure is measured against the year 2012 when the methanol crisis broke - a year producers and drinking establishments suffered losses in the millions.

Filla painting fetches 14 million

Head of Man with Pipe, a work by cubist painter Emil Filla dating back to 1915, was auctioned in Prague on Sunday for 14 million crowns. The starting price was a full million less. Art experts consider the painting, from Filla’s ‘Dutch period’, one of his most significant. The work has been exhibited many times abroad.

Website: Actress Švandová taken to hospital for possible injury after suffering head-on collision

Czech actress Jana Švandová (66) was taken to a hospital for tests on Saturday to determine whether she had suffered a spinal injury after a traffic accident, the news website iDnes reports. Her vehicle and another crashed head-on, according to the daily. The tabloid Blesk reported that the other motorist had failed to respect weather conditions, skidding on the wet road surface. Police confirmed they were investigating. Jana Švandová is known for roles in dozens of films including The Lovers in Year One and The Garden. In the 1990s, she was the first Czech star to pose for Playboy magazine.

24.5.2014

Polls close in European Parliament elections marked by record low turnout

Polls have closed on the second and final day of elections to the European Parliament in the Czech Republic. On the two previous occasions that Czechs could vote in European Parliament elections fewer than 30 percent of voters took part; this time it could be less than one fifth, the Czech News Agency reported, quoting election officials. Almost 850 candidates are in the running for 21 seats with results set to be announced late on Sunday.

Low turnout shows Euro elections unimportant to Czech voters, say political scientists

The European elections are seen as second ranking by Czech voters, political scientist Tomáš Lebeda said in response to the apparent record low turnout. Speaking to the Czech News Agency, he said another factor was that part of the country's political elite were opposed to the European Parliament, which resonated with part of the electorate. Pundit Bohumil Doležal said the low turnout reflected the fact the elections had little impact on events in the Czech Republic. He added that they could however provide an indication of how local elections later in the year will go.

Interior: Allowing minister’s wife to cast ballot twice breach of law

The Ministry of the Interior said that the law on elections was broken when Monika Babišová, the partner of Finance Minister Andrej Babiš, was allowed to cast her ballot twice in the European Parliament elections on Friday. When she placed a ballot paper in a box without an envelope, making it invalid, the chairman of the relevant electoral commission allowed her to cast a second ballot. In addition, Mr. Babiš helped his partner the second time, which is also illegal.

Klaus says “redunant” EP elections first time he has hesitated to vote since 1989

Speaking after voting in the European Parliament elections on Saturday morning, former Czech president Václav Klaus described the ballot as inauthentic and redundant. Mr. Klaus, a noted Eurosceptic, said he had voted with “great unease” and hesitated about going to the polls for the first time since the fall of communism. He said the low turnout was proof that more and more people were aware that attempts to centralise Europe were a mistake.

Plzeň preparing tour of Adolf Loos buildings

The West Bohemian city of Plzeň is preparing a tour of buildings designed by the world renowned architect Adolf Loos. The tour, which also takes in interiors, will be available to visitors from the start of next year, a spokesperson said. Loos, who was born in Brno, received his first commission in Plzeň in 1907 and carried out other projects in the city until his death in 1933. Plzeň will be European City of Culture in 2015.

Czechs lose to Finland in semi-finals at Ice Hockey World Championship

The Czech Republic were beaten 3:0 by Finland in the semi-finals of the Ice Hockey World Championship in Belarus on Saturday evening. The Czechs conceded a single goal in the first and second periods before a strike from the Finns late in the game ended all hope of a Czech comeback. Vladimír Ružička's team will now face Sweden in a game to decide third place.

Olympic champion Samková becomes first snowboarder to take skiing prize

Eva Samková has become the first snowboarder to win the King of the White Piste, an award voted on by members of the Czech Ski Association. Samková took gold in boardercross at the Winter Olympics in Sochi in February. Speaking at the awards ceremony at Prague’s Žofín on Friday, Samková, who is 21, said she was glad to see that snowboarding was developing in the Czech Republic.

23.5.2014

Czechs begin first day of voting in elections to the European Parliament

Czechs began voting in elections to the European Parliament on Friday to fill the 21 seats allotted to the Czech Republic in the 751-strong assembly. A record 38 parties and movements have fielded 849 candidates, which translates into 40 contenders for one mandate. Voter turnout in European elections is traditionally lower than the EU average, with only around a third of eligible voters expected to come to the polls. The results will be announced late on Sunday after the last EU voting country, Italy, closes its polling stations. The European Parliament represents the interests of 500 million people.

Diag Human’s compensation claim rejected by British court

A court in London has dismissed a compensation claim by the blood plasma company Diag Human against the Czech state for allegedly failing to protect its investment in the Czech Republic. The firm claimed eight billion crowns plus interest for a marred deal in the 1990s. Diag Human which has heard negative verdicts on the case from courts in Austria, Switzerland and France, is yet to decide on whether to appeal.

City rejects eMoneyServices offer

The City of Prague has turned down an offer by eMoneyServices to pay 500 million crowns to continue licensing the multi-purpose Opencard. The mayor said earlier the amount demanded was unacceptable; two studies found the price inflated by one-quarter. City Hall will call a tender to select a new card system; meanwhile, the city will start negotiations on the continuation of the current system for an interim period. The selection of a new card system will evidently spell the end of the controversial Opencard, which cost close to 1.2 billion crowns.

Outgoing Slovak president due in Prague next week

Outgoing Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič will meet next week with his Czech counterpart and the Czech prime minister in his final state visit to Prague. Gašparovič steps down in June and will be succeeded by Andrej Kiska. On Tuesday, he will meet with President Zeman at Prague Castle, and he and his spouse will be given a tour of Saint Vitus’ Cathedral, attending a state dinner in the evening held in their honour. Mr Gašparovič last visited Prague in April.

Plant sees leak of low-level radioactive waste water

Some 150 litres of low-level radioactive waste water was accidently leaked at the Temelín nuclear power plant during a maintenance operation, the spokesman for the plant confirmed on Thursday. He stressed that the accident took place within a secure zone and that at no time were employees or the environment in any danger. Anti-nuclear energy activists, including the head of an NGO called Jihočeské matky, have charged that Temelín should be well past growing or teething pains by now. Temelín’s spokesman, by contrast, said the level of radiation which had been measured in the direct vicinity of the accident was was “eight times lower than radiation to which passengers were exposed on long commercial flights”.

Three charged with attempted fraud against Lesy ČR

The country’s anti-corruption unit has charged three men with attempted fraud, the unit’s spokesman Jaroslav Ibehej revealed on Friday. The men were suing the state forestry company Lesy ČR for 12 billion crowns in damages based on two IT and communications contracts dating back to 2007. Investigators found no such deals had ever been signed. If found guilty, the members of the group could face up to 10 years behind bars.

Dlouhý becomes new head of Czech Chamber of Commerce

Vladimír Dlouhý was elected the new head of the Czech Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, replacing Petr Kužel, who did not defend the post for family reasons. Four candidates vied for the post. Besides Dlouhý they were current Chamber vice-president and former head Zdeněk Somr, South Moravia's Regional Economic Chamber head Michal Štefl and Vladimír Opatrný from the Jablonec nad Nisou District Economic Chamber. Dlouhý is a former industry and trade minister and a former candidate for the head of state. He currently serves as an adviser to the investment bank Goldman. In the 1990s public opinion polls, Dlouhý ranked among the most popular policymakers in the country.

Lobkowicz brewery sells 2.3 million newly-issued shares

Pivovary Lobkowicz, the fifth biggest beer maker in the Czech Republic, has sold off 2.3 million newly-issued shares through an IPO with the option for another 230,000 shares, the company stated Friday in a press release. The offered price per share for traders and institutional investors was 160 crowns. An additional 3.4 million shares were to be part of the offer but the original shareholders opted to hang onto their shares. The company’s trading on the Prague Stock Exchange will start on May 28. The total volume of traded shares, including the option, is worth around 405 million which corresponds to market capitalisation at 1.87 billion, the company said. Apart from domestic investors, investors from Austria, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia were drawn by the offer.

Thunderstorms expected across Bohemia

Strong thunderstorms are expected to hit the capital Prague, as well as other regions in Bohemia and the Czech-Moravian highlands later on Friday and to spread to Moravia a day later. Heavy showers could also be seen in places as well as hail and winds up to 70 kilometres per hour. Storm warnings remain in place from 12 PM to 11 PM.

Hockey: Plekanec gets assist on OT winner against Rangers

In the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Montreal Canadiens edged the New York Rangers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final on Thursday, scoring in overtime. In OT, Czech forward Tomáš Plekanec picked up an assist on the winning play: Rangers goalie Henrik Lundquist couldn’t control the rebound off Plekanec's shot and the puck was struck into the net by Galchenyuk. The final score was 3-2 in Montreal’s favour. The Habs needed the win to get back in the series: they still trail the Rangers 2-1 in the best-of-seven.

22.5.2014

Czech officials denounce death sentence for pregnant Sudanese woman

The Czech prime minister has strongly denounced the verdict of a Sudanese court to stone a pregnant woman to death for apostasy. Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said he considered the sentence unacceptable and had asked Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek to make the Czech stand clear to his Sudanese counterpart Ali Ahmad Karti during their meeting in Prague on Thursday. The Speaker of the lower house of Parliament Jan Hamáček has likewise said he will take a strong stand on the issue when he meets with the Sudanese official. A judge in Khartoum last week sentenced a pregnant 27-year-old woman to death by stoning for the crime of apostasy, and to 100 lashings for adultery. The woman was originally charged with adultery only, but the court added the apostasy charge after she told the judge she had been brought up as a Christian and was not guilty. The case has evoked widespread protests from foreign governments and humanitarian organizations.

Finance Ministry proposes three VAT rates as of 2015

The Finance Ministry has proposed introducing three VAT rates as of 2015, the ctk news agency reports citing ministry sources. This would include the current standard VAT at 21 percent, a reduced 15 percent VAT rate and a lower rate of 10 percent for selected products such as medicines, books and baby food. Contrary to expectations, the Finance Ministry has not included nappies in the lowest rate, on the argument that this is in violation of EU norms and Prague would be unlikely to get an exemption. The proposed draft bill also envisages a series of measures to fight tax evasion.

Czech president warns against Tymoshenko

On a visit to Moldova, Czech President Miloš Zeman indirectly warned against former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko´s victory in Sunday´s presidential polls in Ukraine. Zeman said he would not like to interfere in Ukraine´s internal affairs or express his personal assessment of individual presidential candidates, but noted that "a little angel with fair plaits need not necessarily be an angel." The Czech president said he hoped to see the new Ukrainian head of state affect a reconciliation with the pro-Russian separatists, by which he would avoid the risk of both a civil war and an invasion from outside. Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti also expressed the hope that the crisis in Ukraine would be resolved peacefully.

Czech National Heritage Institute refusing to give up Bouzov Castle

The Czech National Heritage Institute has refused to hand over Bouzov Castle in Moravia to a religious order within the church restitution process as it believes that the restitution law does not apply to this particular property, the ctk news agency reported. A spokesperson for the institute said Bouzov Castle was confiscated under the post-war Benes Decrees, i.e. before the 1948-1989 communist period o which the church restitution law applies. He moreover argued that the claimant was not able to prove having used the property between February 1948 and January 1990 for spiritual or pastoral purposes, which is required under the law. The property was claimed by the Czech branch of the Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, which is a German Catholic Order, the successor of Teutonic Knights.

Former prime minister directed by office head says paper

The Czech daily Mladá fronta Dnes gave details drawn from police documents Thursday of how the former head of prime minister Petr Nečas’ office was the real mover and shaker at the centre of the Civic Democrat (ODS) government. The paper said the police had mapped how Jana Nagyová was involved in seeking to fill top posts at the Supreme Audit Office, Administration for State Material Reserves, Czech Post, former Land Office, the ODS party, and the national police force. Nagyová, who later married Nečas, was a magnet for so- called ‘godfathers’ seeking to exert influence and place and even Cabinet minister often had to go through her to get to the prime minister, the paper reported. Nečas’ government was eventually brought down when it was revealed Nagyová had used the security service to keep tabs on Nečas’ wife.

Dlouhý elected president of the Czech Chamber of Commerce

Former trade and industry minister Vladimír Dlouhý has been elected president of the Czech Chamber of Commerce, the ctk news agency reports. He replaces Petr Kužel, who did not defend the post for family reasons. Dlouhý was industry and trade minister in the years between 1992 and 1997 under then prime minister Václav Klaus. After leaving high politics he served as advisor to Goldman Sachs in Central and Eastern Europe. In June of 2012 Dlouhý announced his candidacy for the 2013 presidential election but failed to collect enough signatures in support of his campaign.

Czech Republic moves up on IMD competitiveness list

The Czech Republic has moved up in the world competitiveness ratings published annually by the IMD World Competitiveness Center. After a four year slide the country is back in 33rd place on a list of 60 countries. The rankings measure how well countries manage their economic and human resources to increase their prosperity.

Sir Nicholas Winton not to visit Prague in the autumn

Sir Nicholas Winton, who saved close to 700 Czech Jewish children by getting them out of German-occupied Czechoslovakia on the eve of World War Two, will not be able to attend the ceremony of his decoration with the Order of White Lion at Prague Castle for health reasons, the daily Lidové noviny reports citing his daughter Barbara. President Miloš Zeman is to bestow the highest state distinction on Sir Nicholas on October 28, a national holiday marking the anniversary of the birth of Czechoslovakia in 1918. Sir Nicolas Winton turned 105 on Monday.

Czechs secure place in IHWC semifinals after beating US 4:3

The Czech national hockey team beat the US 4:3 at the Ice Hockey World Championships in Minsk on Thursday, securing a place in the semi-finals. On Saturday they will take on the winner of Thursday’s face-off between Canada and Finland. The Czechs are back in the semifinals after two years when they won the bronze at the ice hockey championship in Helsinki.

Czechs draw 2:2 in football friendly against Finland

In football, the Czech team came back twice from behind to end up with a 2:2 draw in a friendly against Finland on Wednesday night. All the goals came in the first half with Matěj Vydra and Josef Hušbauer hitting the back of the net for the Czechs. Czech manager Pavel Vrba summed up his second game in charge and his second draw positively saying that none of his selection had disappointed.

21.5.2014

Life sentences handed down to methanol poisoning masterminds

A Czech court has handed down life sentences to two mean accused of being the ringleaders of the methanol scandal which cost the lives of more than 50 people. The regional court in Zlín handed down the sentences to Tomáš Krepela and Rudolf Fian, who were accused of masterminding the mixing hard spirits with deadly methanol in a concoction which started to kill from September 2012 onwards. Slovaks and Poles as well as Czechs numbered amongst the victims. A third man who acted as distributor, Jiří Vacul, was given a 15 year sentence. Lighter punishments were given to another seven co-defendants.

Industry minister calls for resignation of head of state export bank

Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Jan Mládek has called on the head of the state bank for promoting exports to immediately resign. Mládek said in news release Wednesday that the head of the Czech Export Bank, Jiří Klumpar, had overstepped his managerial competences. The minister added in a news release Wednesday that instead of getting to grips with problems at the bank, Klumpar had proposed that a new bank be created out of part of the existing institution without consulting anyone else about such a move. Mládek said he should resign before the bank’s supervisory board kicked him out. The export bank has been investigated by police in connected with suspect loans made in particular to Russian companies.

State fund seeks criminal probe of delayed fantasy film

The Czech state fund aimed at encouraging filmmaking in the country has decided to launch criminal proceedings against one of the most expensive projects it has supported. The fund, on the back of expert analysis, has suspicions that fraud could have played a role in funding for the more than 200 million crown Czech fantasy film ‘Last from Aporver.’ The state fund put forward 47 million crowns to support the film. It was supposed to have been completed in 2011 but that date has been put back four times with no clear indication when it might be screened in cinemas.

Czech president sees business opportunities in Romania

Czech president Miloš Zeman has said on a visit to Romania that Czech firms could play a major role in building the country’s transport and energy infrastructure and new power production capacity. Turning to foreign relations, Zeman said that Romania feared for the future of the former Soviet state, Moldova. Fears were based not just on the possibility of invasion but also the fact that the country had not built up sufficient independent energy capacity and links to the European Union. The Czech head of state is due to visit Moldova on Thursday and Friday.

Government grants exemptions to teaching qualification demands

The government of Wednesday agreed to specific exceptions allowing teachers without specific qualifications to continue with their career. The exceptions regard teachers older than 55 years who have 20 years of experience or who teach specialized subjects on a less than full time basis. Without the exceptions thousands of teachers would have had to quit the profession with serious disruption threatened in some regions. An estimated 11,000 teachers do not have the university level teaching qualifications required by law. The exemptions are believed to cover around three quarters of that total.

Finance minister seen backing down on tax battle with coalition partner

Finance minister Andrej Babiš has backtracked on proposed moves to clamp down on the tax breaks offered to the self-employed. Public broadcaster Czech Television said the minister was no longer insisting on changes ahead of a meeting of leaders of coalition parties on Wednesday. The smallest party in the government, the Christian Democrats said they were totally opposed to Babiš’ proposed changes but they received support from the left-of-centre Social Democrats. The main change advanced was the abolition of tax breaks for those who opted to automatically write off tax on 60 percent of their earnings.

Czechs have no need to fear gas shortage despite Ukraine crisis, says Sobotka

The Czech Republic has gas reserves to last 100 days and neither households nor firms need fear a shortage, says Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka. He made the comment after a meeting of the State Security Council called to discuss a possible halting of Russian gas supplies through Ukraine due to the crisis in the latter country. Mr. Sobotka said the Czech Republic could help Slovakia by supplying it with Russian gas from the Baltic Nord Stream pipeline. Prague is not in favour of a Polish proposal for EU states to buy gas and oil from Russia together, a suggestion reportedly aimed at reducing Moscow’s ability to “blackmail” individual states reliant on it for power.

Czech Television sends hockey championship erection adverts to sin bin

Czech television has announced that it will ban adverts for erection pills for the remainder of the world ice hockey championships, according to new server novinky.cz. The head of the public broadcaster Petr Dvorák told the broadcaster’s supervisory council that the move had been sparked by protests from viewers over the vulgar content of the ads and the likelihood that children were watching matches ahead of 10 pm. The final Czech group match with France on Tuesday evening was watched an average by 1.3 million viewers with even more expected for the semi-final clash with the United States.

Czechs beat France at Worlds to set up clash with USA in quarter-finals

The Czech Republic beat France at the Ice Hockey World Championship in Belarus on Tuesday evening. The Czechs, who have not been performing well in the tournament, were 3:0 down at the end of the first period but fought back to make it 3:3 and force overtime, in which they won the game 4:3 on penalties. The Czechs finished third in their group and will face the USA in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

Suspected Czech egg smuggler stopped at Sydney airport

A Czech has been stopped at Australia’s Sydney airport on suspicion of trying to illegally smuggle bird eggs into the country. The 39-year-old was checked by customs officers after he arrived on a flight from Dubai and was found to be hiding 16 small eggs in his underpants. He is expected to appear in court. The maximum penalty for smuggling eggs of endangered species is 10 years in prison.