News
Miloslav Vlcek elected speaker
Social Democrat MP Miloslav Vlcek has been elected speaker of the lower house by a majority of MPs present. On Monday, he received 174 out of a possible 197 votes. Earlier, Mr Vlcek pledged publicly that his holding of the post will only be temporary, part of an agreement designed to break more than two months of deadlock on the Czech political scene. The centre-right parties agreed to support his candidacy on the condition that he would resign rather than take advantage of any opportunity to select the country's next prime minister. Mr Vlcek's election should now open the door for the outgoing cabinet to resign. That will allow the president to name a new prime minister, in all likelihood Civic Democrat Mirek Topolanek, who has been negotiating support for a minority Civic Democrat government. Mr Topolanek expressed hope on Monday that he might be named on two days' time, after the outgoing government tenders its resignation.
Outgoing PM indicates support for minority Civic Democrat government far from certain
In related news, negotiations on a minority Civic Democrat government may face complications: on Monday outgoing Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek suggested to reporters that if negotiations continued in the vein they have until now, Social Democrat support for such a government was "unlikely". Mr Paroubek would not comment on reasons behind the latest statement, but it is known from earlier negotiations that the Social Democrats want a say in the government line-up, including putting forward the names of unaffiliated experts. Civic Democrat leader Mirek Topolanek, meanwhile, commented Mr Paroubek's statement saying it could be connected to the president's recent promise that Mr Paroubek could also - in a certain phase [of post-election developments] - be entrusted with trying to form a government.
Parliament elects new deputy chairpersons
Five deputies have been elected to the post of deputy chairpersons in the first round and second rounds of a secret ballot. Those elected in the first ballot were: Social Democrat Lubomir Zaoralek, Lucie Talmanova of the right-of-centre Civic Democrats, Christian Democrat Jan Kasal, and the Communist Party's Vojtech Filip.
Only one, nominee Miroslava Nemcova, failed to gain enough votes in the first ballot, but was elected in the second.
Finance Ministry proposes state budget deficit of 88 billion crowns for 2007
The Finance Ministry has proposed a state budget deficit of 88 billion crowns, the equivalent of around 4 billion US dollars, for next year. The Finance Ministry - counting on revenues of almost 880 billion crowns - has said it expects 5 percent economic growth and inflation at 2.8 percent in 2007. Unemployment is expected at about 7.4 percent. In order to meet the proposed figures the ministry has said that a number of projects will need to be put on hold, among them an amendment to the law on health insurance. Raising sales tax on tobacco products to meet EU norms will also be a necessity.
In the next year, the deficit should be no greater than 3.8 percent of the GDP to keep the country within the parameters set in the euro convergence programme. The Czech Republic is aiming to adopt the European Union's currency in 2010.
Pavla Topolankova, Martin Maxa, among "well-known" names to run in Senate elections
A new political party founded by European Parliament MP Jana Bobosikova has announced the names of twelve candidates running in the Czech Senate elections in the autumn, among them notable figures such as Pavla Topolankova - the wife of Civic Democrat leader Mirek Topolanek. Others listed include pop singer Martin Maxa, and former news anchorwoman Mirka Cejkova. Party founder Jana Bobosikova has called her party "Politika 21" in order to "represent politics for the 21st century". In the fall, one third (that is, twenty-seven) of the seats in the Senate will be the focus of the elections.
Czechs prepare for "friendly" against Serbia, Nedved to announce future plans
The Czech national football side is preparing for its friendly match against Serbia, the teams' only preparation game before the qualification rounds for the European Championship begin in September. Players have met in Prague ahead of the game, which takes place on Wednesday. The team will be without a number of injured players and it will be its first game without midfielder Karel Poborsky, who retired following the World Cup. One of the players expected to take to the pitch is star midfielder Pavel Nedved, but there are rumours the game may be his final international cap. Nedved, who plays for Juventus Turin, has scheduled a press conference on Tuesday to announce whether he will stay on with the national side after this week or make Wednesday his final appearance.
Weather
Mostly showers are expected into the week with daytime highs averaging 23 degrees Celsius.
