News

The leader of the Party of European Democrats (SNK-ED), Jana Hybaskova, announced on Wednesday that her party wants to launch a constitutional appeal in order to remove the Social Democrats from power because they do not respect court rulings and endanger democracy. Ms. Hybaskova made the statements at a press conference where she aired the grievances of the European Democrats, who are owed about 15 million crowns ($681 000 USD) according to a May court ruling. The dispute over the money for campaign contributions dates back to 2002, when the European Democrats ran as an association, rather than as a party or registered coalition; it is on this count that the Ministry of Finance has refused to make the payment, despite the court ruling in favour of the European Democrats. Ms. Hybaskova says that her party was left shortchanged during the recent June 2006 elections, when it could have used this money during the campaign.

The outgoing Social Democratic cabinet passed an amendment to consumer tax rates on Wednesday. Tobacco products will be affected, with the price of a packet of 20 cigarettes costing about 15 crowns more as of 1 January 2007. The new law must still be passed by the lower house and the Senate, and signed by the President in order to become effective. Despite the rising costs of tobacco products in the Czech Republic, sales are not dropping; in 2004 a total of 22.7 million cigarette packets were sold, and in 2005 that number rose to 23.5 million.

Tomas Rosicky has been named new captain of the Czech Republic's football team. Rosicky was chosen by senior players and the Czech team's management on Tuesday evening. The 25-year-old Arsenal midfielder said it was a great honour to captain the national team, adding that their current target was qualification for the European Championships in two years' time.

Following talks with the Civic Democratic Party on Tuesday, the acting chairman of the Christian Democratic Party Jan Kasal said his party would not actively support a minority Civic Democrat cabinet. Mr. Kasal said that once the new cabinet was unveiled his party would decide whether to vote against it or tolerate it by leaving the chamber during a vote of confidence. There is no question of active support, we are not in favour of early elections, Mr. Kasal told journalists. Former Christian Democrat leader Miroslav Kalousek, who resigned last week after a rank and file rebellion over the prospect of cooperating with the Communists, was not on the negotiating team. Three deputy chairmen resigned in his wake, accepting co-responsibility for a bad decision. The party's negotiating team is now led by the former first deputy chairman Jan Kasal who will serve as acting chairman until the party elects a new leadership at a national conference in December.