Daily news summary
Government to discuss security ahead of Council of Europe meeting
Members of the government are to take part in a special meeting to discuss security in the Czech Republic as well as the European Union ahead of a Council of Europe meeting on Sunday. The prime minister is to push for stronger controls of the EU's Schengen borders. Other aspects of the continuing migrant crisis are also to be discussed. Security is at the forefront following the recent attacks in Paris which saw 129 people die at the hands of extremists. Saturday's meeting is to be attended by the head of the police as well as intelligence officials.
Schwarzenberg to pass baton to Kalousek at TOP 09 party congress
The leader of TOP 09 Karel Schwarzenberg, 77, is to step down as chairman and pass the baton to deputy chairman Miroslav Kalousek at the party's congress launched in Prague on Saturday. The former foreign minister and presidential candidate is stepping down after successfully leading TOP 09 to third place in elections in 2010, not long after the party was formed. TOP 09, now in the opposition, was in the former government of Petr Nečas with the Civic Democrats and Public Affairs. Giving up the post, Mr Schwarzenberg will be named honorary chairman. The new party leader, Miroslav Kalousek, 54, is a seasoned politician who twice served as finance minister.
Outgoing TOP 09 leader expresses disgust over president's stance towards migrants
TOP 09's Karel Schwarzenberg, due to step down as party leader, has said that in the migrant crisis the Czech Republic, the EU and even his party faced the challenge of a generation, the same way predecessors had to deal with the realities of Nazism or communist rule. At his speech at his party's congress in Prague on Saturday, the former foreign minister, who has long championed human rights, said it was important to be open and friendly to refugees, suggesting anyone could become a refugee under certain circumstances. He added that the 25 year period following the Velvet Revolution had been golden but that it had ended. After his speech, he told journalists that he was disgusted by President Miloš Zeman's position on migrants; Mr Schwarzenberg went head-to-head against the current head of state in the presidential election in 2013.
Police shelve CzechTourism case
Police have shelved charges filed by the the Minister for Regional Development earlier this year over the alleged past manipulation of public tenders at the state agency for tourism, CzechTourism. Minister Karla Šlechtová filed charges against unknown perpetrators in March. The police, however, did not find evidence that any crime had been committed. CzechTourism is tasked with promoting travel in the Czech Republic, both at home and abroad.
Opposition lawmakers filibuster bill on e-cash registers
Opposition lawmakers in the lower house of Parliament on Friday successfully obstructed a planned vote on a new bill on electronic cash registers, sought by the Finance Ministry to curb the grey economy and clamp down on tax evasion. The system is also to bring in an extra two billion crowns. The sum of two billion is accounted for in the draft state budget for 2016. If the bill on electronic cash registers is not passed in time, Finance Minister Andrej Babǐs said the shortfall would not be a major problem to cover from other sources. A final reading on next year's state budget is scheduled for December 9. The centre-right opposition opposes the electronic cash register system on the grounds it will add extra work and expenditures for business owners and end up hurting small businesses.
Air quality in Moravia-Silesia improves but limits still exceeded
Air quality in smog-hit Moravia and Silesia improved on Saturday although all 14 measuring sites still measured levels of particulate matter higher than existing limits. Prior, levels had progressed to twice the legal amount, the Czech Hydro-Meteorological Institute said. The region of Moravia-Silesia regularly suffers from poor air quality related to heavy industry and other factors.
Lights on Christmas tree at Old Town Square turned on
Lights at the Christmas tree on Prague's Old Town Square were turned on on Saturday but not in a traditional ceremony for security reasons, news website iDnes reports. The lights will also be turned off on the hour for a few minutes for an undetermined period of time before they stay on for the greater part of the Christmas period. Key sites in Prague saw security increased until the end of the year at the earliest, following the recent attacks in Paris.
NHL action: Krejčí scores winner against Rangers in 59th minute
The Boston Bruins' David Krejčí found the back of the net with just a minute remaining in the Bruins' match against the New York Rangers on Friday to seal a 4:3 result. The Bruins are on a five-game winning streak and are currently third in the Atlantic division, behind Ottawa and Montreal.
In other hockey action on Friday, Philadelphia Flyers' goalie Michal Neuwirth turned away 33 shots in his team's 3:2 overtime win against Nashville. Neuwirth was named the game's second star.
