Insight Central Europe News
First talks on new Polish coalition end in deadlock
First talks on putting together a new government in Poland after last weeks' parliamentary elections have ended in deadlock. The two winning right-of-centre parties failed to agree on most procedural matters, and talks were overshadowed by clashes between the two parties' candidates in the presidential election to take place on 9th October. Speculation is growing that both sides may be playing a waiting game and that a deal may be impossible until after the presidential race.
Slovenians narrowly approve hotly contested media law
Slovenians have narrowly approved a new law on the public service media in a nationwide referendum. The opposition claimed that the law would put state financed radio and television under the direct control of parliament and the government, which would appoint most members of their management boards. But the outcome was welcomed by the centre-right Prime Minsiter, Janez Jansa, who said the law was needed to make the public media work more efficiently.
Czech parliamentary committee to look into Unipetrol privatisation
The Czech Prime Minister, Jiri Paroubek, has come to an agreement with the head of the opposition Communists to set up a parliamentary commission to investigate the way that the Czech petrochemicals industry was privatized. All parties in parliament will be equally represented. The decision follows controversy over the sale of the state-owned Unipetrol to Poland's PKN Orlen. The right-wing opposition Civic Democrats described the move as an attempt to stifle questions about the deal. A separate Polish parliamentary investigation concluded that Unipetrol had been sold at a price well below its real value.
Czechs return Vienna furniture
The Czech government has agreed to return historic furniture to Austria from Vienna's imperial palaces that was confiscated after World War II. A government spokeswoman said 238 pieces of furniture, including chairs and sofas from the Hofburg and Schönbrunn palaces were to be repaired first and then given back. The furniture was taken to the Czech castle of Uhercice during the Nazi occupation of the Czech Lands during World War II.
Hungarians bottom of language class
The Hungarians are Europe's worst linguists with over two thirds saying they can't speak a foreign language, according to a newly released study commissioned by the EU. In the language stakes they lag behind even Europe's notorious non-linguists, the British. The report also reveals that with Europe's eastern expansion German has overtaken French as the second most widely spoken foreign language after English, and Russian has risen to fourth place. The EU education commissioner, Slovakia's Jan Figel welcomed the finding that younger people speak more foreign languages, with more than two thirds of 15-24 year-olds able to converse in another tongue.
Standing to attention in the Slovak army
The Slovak army has launched a rather unusual advertising campaign, using condoms to boost recruitment levels. Adverts featuring a picture of a muscular soldier and the words 'show yourself' are to appear on 27,000 packs of condoms to be distributed at recruitment centres across Slovakia. The country is battling against fading interest among young men in joining the army, which is due to turn completely professional in early 2006.
