News

Following a recent decision by the Constitutional Court, a Prague high court has ruled that music critic Jan Rejzek will not have to apologise to Czech pop singer Helena Vondrackova for comments made in newspaper article in the year 2000. In the article Mr Rejek suggested the pop singer's success after 1989 was tied to what he called "Mafiosi" from 1970s Communist Czechoslovakia. Mrs Vondrackova expressed anger over the Constitutional Court ruling in March, saying she had been the target of defamation and lies. She has already said she will take her case to the European Court of Human Rights.

The legendary British singer Rod Stewart has cancelled just days before he was due to perform in Prague for the very first time. One of the organisers on Tuesday revealed Mr Stewart changed his itinerary without giving a reason. Interest in the singer's music in Prague was said to be high, after organisers moved the planned concert to a larger venue. Fans will be given refunds for their tickets bought.

A new opinion poll taken following the rejection of the draft European Constitution by French and Dutch voters has shown that the majority of Czechs now opposed to adopting the document. A poll of 2300 people conducted for the daily Mlada fronta Dnes by the SC&C agency shows only 19 percent of Czechs in favour of adopting the draft EU constitution. Prior to the French and Dutch results, most opinion polls showed over 50 percent of Czech in favour of it. The new SC&C poll predicts that 29 percent of Czechs would vote against the EU constitution in a referendum and turnout would be low.

In other news, as of Tuesday this week, Czech taxpayers stop 'working for the government' and begin earning for themselves. This year, Tax Freedom Day arrives on the 14th of June, two days earlier than it did in 2004. By this measure, Czech taxpayers will spend 165 days of this year making money for public budgets and then 201 days earning for themselves. The date is calculated in large part by comparing the ratio between total tax revenues and net national incomes. The overall burden on the Czech taxpayer has increased in recent years. When first introduced in the Czech Republic in the year 2000, Tax Freedom Day came eight days earlier, on the 6th of June.