News

Representatives from the governing coalition have addressed three individuals as possible candidates in a 3rd round of Czech presidential elections. All three have academic, rather than political, backgrounds: Ivan Vilhelm is the rector of Charles University in Prague, Pavel Klener is a pro-rector at the same institution, while Helena Illnerova is the head of the Academy of Sciences. So far all discussions between party members and potential candidates have been non-binding. On Tuesday MPs from the senior coalition member the Social Democratic Party will meet to decide if they will back any of the three.

The Federation of Prague Tram Drivers has announced its members will strike on Monday, February 3rd. From 4 am to midnight Monday no trams will roll out on Prague routes. Prague's tram drivers are upset by the fact they do not earn as much as bus drivers in the city, even though both groups are employed by a single transit authority. A comparative study commissioned by the Transit Authority and Town Hall, comparing job difficulty and skills, ranked tram drivers lower on the scale, determining a difference in pay. Along with Monday's strike the head of the Federation of Tram Drivers Antonin Dub has called for the head of the Transit Authority, Milan Houfek, to resign.

Several members of the Social Democratic Party's Central Executive Committee, attempting to obtain the names of potential presidential candidates being discussed by the three-party governing coalition, were further left in the dark Saturday when Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla told journalists that talks between the parties, as well as potential candidates, were still underway. No definite names have been decided as yet. The governing coalition, which includes the Social Democrats, the Christian Democrats, and the Freedom Union, is trying to agree on a joint candidate in upcoming Czech presidential elections. Two attempts in January ended in stalemate, failing to find a successor to Vaclav Havel, who steps down on February 2nd. In the previous attempts the Social Democrats fielded their two candidates, neither of whom made it past the first round.

Czech artist Jiri David's 'Neon Heart' that adorned Prague Castle for the last several months has been turned off as planned, to coincide with Vaclav Havel's final days as president of the Czech Republic. The large neon heart, echoing Mr Havel's signature trademark and inspired by Mr Havel's ideals, was turned off on Friday evening. The heart had dominated Prague's historic skyline provoking almost endless debate among the Czech public over its artistic value. There was more 'controversy' on the heart's 'final day', when Greenpeace representatives hung a banner near the structure protesting possible military action against Iraq.