News
Nečas: new justice minister will be appointed by Tuesday
Prime Minister Petr Nečas says a new justice minister will be appointed by Tuesday at the latest, before the president leaves for a week-long state visit to Indonesia and Malaysia on Wednesday. On a debate programme on Czech Television the prime minister said that the new minister would have to make structural changes to key parts of the justice ministry, which he said the previous minister avoided. The PM unexpectedly dismissed justice minister Jiří Pospíšil this week, criticising him for poor financial management and procrastinating on tough decisions. However, many have speculated that the decision was actually meant to block the imminent appointment of a highly respected prosecutor and anti-corruption crusader to the post of High State Prosecutor. Mr Nečas has declined to comment on who the new minister may be.
PM ‘can’t imagine’ Parkanová not being given up
Regarding the on-going scandal around former defence minister Vlasta Parkanová, the prime minister also told Czech Television that he could not imagine that Parliament would not allow her to be given up for prosecution. Mr Nečas said the best thing Mrs Parkkanová could do would be to ask that she be stripped of immunity as a Member of Parliament herself. The case, he said, involved a number of questions that could only be cleared up in a court of law – including questions regarding the police investigation itself. The police accuse Parkanová of properly handling the 2010purchase of four Spanish CASA transport planes for the army via an intermediary.
Balanced budget by in 2016 will probably not be reached, says Nečas
The Czech Republic will probably not reach the planned balanced public budget in 2016 as lower economic growth stands in the way of meeting the government´s consolidation programme, Prime Minister Petr Necas has said. However, the government still has to get the public finance gap below 3 percent of GDP next year, he added. In its policy statement, the government counted on a balanced budget on a 2 percent GDP growth. The growth was at 1.7 percent last year, this year will be around zero and next year below 2 percent as well. Under these circumstances he said he considered it completely legitimate and reasonable to adjust the consolidation pace to concrete economic conditions.
Police crackdown on squatters in the Milada mansion
Police cracked down on some three dozen squatters holding a music event at the Milada mansion in Prague 8. A helicopter and one hundred police officers arrived on the scene after midnight and arrested about 25 people for misdemeanours. A number of squatters climbed on to the roof, however, and police were still negotiating with them to come down on Sunday. The squatters were marking three years since police forced their community out of the mansion, which was abandoned in 1988 and is in poor condition. For more than 10 years the squatters had inhabited the building and organised concerts and anti-racism festivals.
City of Prague to shift cultural funding from partnership to grant system
The City of Prague has decided to considerably limit its partnership activities in cultural events, providing support instead through grants. According to the decision of the city council, as of next year, 90% of cultural funding will be distributed through grants based on selections procedures assessed by specialists. The system of partnership has often been criticised because it requires no such assessment. A total of 100 million crowns will be transferred from partnership to grant funds.
Dozens of children escape bus fire uninjured
Not a single injury was reported after a bus carrying 45 children to a summer camp caught fire near the town of Chrudim on Saturday night. The bus was eventually totally consumed by the fire, however the children, as well as two monitors and the driver, were able to escape through the windows unharmed, even saving the luggage. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Thousands of Sokol supporters gather in Prague
Thousands of supporters of the Sokol athletic movement set off across Prague on Sunday for the 15th annual Sokol conference. Organisers estimated that nearly 15,000 people turned out for the event, which began at Prague's Wenceslaus Square and included processions with historic banners, Sokol uniforms and live music. This year also marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of the movement, which from the 19th century also played an important role in the Czech National Awakening. Organisers said it was important to show that Sokol is not just a historical but a living modern movement.
Weather
Conditions are expected to remain mostly sunny and hot, with daytime highs reaching 32 to 36° C.
