News

A train collision in the eastern Bohemian region of Havlíčkobrodsko at 12:55 Monday has led to thirteen injuries. The collision occurred between a freight train and a small passenger train carrying fifteen passengers – the reasons for the collision remain unclear, though a signalling error is believed to be one possible cause, although some witnesses have suggested that the freight train was in an incorrect location prior to the accident. Further details suggest both trains were moving in opposite direction on the same single track line near a train station. Seven people were taken to hospital following the accident, with two said to be in a serious state.

The embattled Health Minister Tomáš Julínek appears to have signalled that his is ready to concede to the demands of coalition minority partners the Christian Democrats as he moves forward with controversial reforms. The agreement was apparently made on Monday in the city of Brno following a meeting between Mr Julínek and the Christian Democrat head Jiří Čunek. The Christian Democrats have long signalled opposition to elements of healthcare reform that deal with abortions, in-vitro fertilisation and other such social-moral issues. News of an apparent compromise will provide a temporary boost to the embattled Health Minister, whose position is largely viewed as particularly shaky following his Civic Democratic party’s wide scale defeat in recent local elections.

A helicopter carrying a suspended container over Prague, avoided a disaster after the load was dropped accidentally into the Vltava River in the centre of Prague. The container fell into a stretch of water near Charles Bridge, after the pilot experienced a loss of control as the load began to flail in the wind. According to witnesses, the pilot attempted to steady the helicopter above the Vltava, but was unable to prevent the container from disintegrating over the water. Several walls of the container then fell into the Vltava – the rest remained attached to the helicopter, which the pilot then safely transported to Letná in Prague, where the craft landed. An investigation into the incident is continuing.

Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek’s main rival for the leadership of the Civic Democrats has come out strongly against ratifying the Lisbon treaty. Speaking on a TV debate show on Sunday, Prague Mayor Pavel Bém said it was not possible for the Czech Republic to hand over powers to Brussels without receiving anything in return, and without even understanding why. Mr Bém said that the Civic Democrats had adopted a resolution rejecting the transferral of state or national powers to what he called “European Brussels-ocracy”; he said he expected the party’s members to adhere to that pledge. Prague’s mayor is close to President Václav Klaus, a strong opponent of Lisbon. Prime Minister Topolánek, who is in favour of ratification, said on Tuesday that the Czech Parliament would vote on the matter in the first quarter of next year.

Meanwhile, the branch of the Civic Democrats in the rural area around Brno (Brno-venkov) has become the latest to give its backing to Mirek Topolánek ahead of a leadership vote four weeks from now. With a number of district branches around the country having expressed support for Mr Topolánek, he is in front of Pavel Bém, who enjoys strong backing in the capital. Mr Bém, currently first deputy chairman of the Civic Democrats, announced his candidature in the wake of poor results for the party in recent regional and Senate elections.

Prime Minister Topolánek is in favour of the current government with the Christian Democrats and the Greens seeing out its full term; Mr Bém has been critical of the coalition, and there has been speculation he would try to enter some form of power-sharing deal with the opposition Social Democrats.