• Opposition party representatives file complaint against PM, others, in Unipetrol scandal
    10/16/2005

    The chairman of the right-of-centre Civic Democrats' deputy group, Vlastimil Tlusty, has revealed that he and several other members of his party have filed a criminal complaint against Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek and two members of the cabinet, as well as a former aide, in connection with the privatisation of the Czech oil concern Unipetrol. According to the MPs the prime minister played a role in the privatisation at a time when he was still at City Hall. The prime minister has dismissed the move as "desperate".

    Last year the Polish PKN Orlen bought 63 percent shares in the Czech oil giant - a deal which has since been dogged by allegations of corruption. On Friday Polish prosecutors investigating the purchase asked for permission to question over a dozen individuals in the Czech Republic including former prime minister Stanislav Gross. The new management of PKN Orlen has also said it has uncovered new evidence of secret payoffs to Czech politicians.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • PM to decide between Rath and Koskuba for health minister post
    10/16/2005

    Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek has said he is considering two candidates for the post of health minister: the president of the Czech Doctor's Association, David Rath, and deputy health minister David Koskuba. Speaking on a Sunday TV discussion programme the prime minister said he had asked both men to put forward plans for the financial stabilisation of the health sector, including the deficit of the country's largest health insurer, VZP. The prime minister indicated a final decision would be taken next week.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Foreign Minister suggests Seychelles could face int'l pressure over Krejcir case
    10/16/2005

    The Czech Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda has said that the Czech Republic will ask international organisations like the OECD - the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - to put pressure on the Seychelles in connection with the case of fugitive businessman Radovan Krejcir. Earlier this year the Czech-born Krejcir escaped to the Seychelles after facing charges of fraud and conspiracy to murder in the Czech Republic. Speaking on Czech TV on Sunday the foreign minister said he would push for the Seychelles being "blacklisted" by organisations like the OECD; earlier the Seychelles stated Mr Krejcir would not face extradition, having obtained Seychelles citizenship in 1996.

    The foreign minister suggested an unfavourable listing of the country by the OECD would be a warning for investors, theoretically pressuring the Seychelles to re-evaluate Mr Krejcir's case.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Poll: minority of Czechs consider the Communist Party a "criminal" organisation
    10/16/2005

    A new poll released by the STEM agency has suggested that only minority of Czechs share Christian Democrat leader Miloslav Kalousek's view that the Communist Party is a "criminal" organisation. Of more than 600 questioned, 46 percent agreed. The poll found that younger members of the population with higher educations remain sceptical of Communist Party intentions, while many older citizens believe the party will become more acceptable for voters under the party's new chairman Vojtech Filip.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Vaidisova wins third final in Asia
    10/16/2005

    Sixteen-year-old Czech tennis sensation Nicole Vaidisova has won her third tournament in Asia in just two weeks, winning in Bangkok after taking titles in Tokyo, and Seoul. On Saturday Ms Vaidisova dispatched Russian opponent Nadezda Petrovova 6:1, 6:7, 7:5. Vaidisova has now won her last 15 games.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Sold out: flu vaccines
    10/15/2005

    Following warnings by the European Union on the possibility of a bird-flu pandemic, common flu vaccines in the Czech Republic have sold out. Pharmacies throughout the country sold out their vaccines in a single day, with pharmaceutical companies promising new batches in the coming week. However, officials have warned vaccines are only effective against the common flu - not the deadly bird virus. The government, meanwhile, has ordered an additional 600,000 does of Tamiflu vaccine - said to be effective against bird flu - at a cost of 600 million crowns.

    The purchase is part of the country's emergency plan, following the European Commission's confirmation that the deadly strain of bird flu, known as H5N1, had been identified in cases in both Turkey and Romania.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • PM: Rath has excellent chance of becoming health minister
    10/15/2005

    Following backing received in a confidence vote by the Czech Doctor's Association on Friday there is good chance the association's President David Rath will be named the country's next health minister. Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek said as much on Saturday, describing Mr Rath's chances as "excellent". The outgoing minister, Milada Emmerova, was sacked earlier in the week over continuing problems in health sector finances. Mr Rath, her possible successor, is 39, and is unaffiliated with any political party. He has said if chosen for the post he will respect Social Democrat policies.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Hit-and-run outside discothèque kills two teenage girls
    10/15/2005

    A twenty-year-old driver has been taken into custody for a hit-and-run that killed two teenage girls in the early hours of Saturday morning, as they waited outside a discothèque in the north-east Moravian city of Ostrava. Three others were injured, one remains in critical condition. The driver drove away from the scene. The two girls who died were aged 15 and 18. During Saturday police apprehended the hit-and-run suspect at his home; they are investigating reasons behind the accident, including whether the man had been driving drunk.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Team welcomes Nedved return in Norway clash
    10/15/2005

    National football side manager Vlastimil Kostal and team coach Karel Bruckner have welcomed a decision by former team captain Pavel Nedved to return for two matches against Norway in the final play-off preceding the World Cup. Nedved, who retired last year but plays for Italy's Juventus Turin, announced the desire to help his country through the final qualification games. The star midfielder has made no decision on whether to return for the actual World Cup next year, should the Czech Republic win.

    The Czechs, currently ranked 4th in the world by FIFA, have been fairly successful in European Championships but last played in the World Cup in 1990.
    Author: Jan Velinger

  • Polish investigators ask to question 15 in Czech Republic over oil group purchase
    10/14/2005

    Polish prosecutors investigating the purchase of the Czech Unipetrol oil group by Poland's PKN Orlen have asked for permission to question 15 people in the Czech Republic, a spokesperson for the Krakow state attorney's office said on Friday. Unofficial sources suggest the 15 include the Czech minister of finance, Bohuslav Sobotka, and former prime minister Stanislav Gross. The new management of PKN Orlen says it has uncovered evidence of secret payoffs to Czech politicians.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

Pages