News

The daily Pravo reports that the number of Czechs recycling is on the rise—and in fact, Czechs are among the best recyclers in Europe. The country has already surpassed recycling parameters set by the European Union that are to take effect in 2012. According to the report, 67% of people practiced recycling on a regular basis in 2005 and the average citizen sorted 36.2 Kg. of waste. Czech households recycled a total of 360 000 tonnes of garbage in 2005, and 168 000 tonnes of this material was reused.

Vendula Frintova of the Czech Republic has won bronze in the women's triathlon World Cup race in Richards Bay, South Africa. It is the first time in her career that Frintova has placed within the top three finalists. She finished with a time of 2:06:59 and fainted after she crossed the finish line. Emma Snowsill of Australia took first place, and Anja Dittmer of Germany clinched the silver.

Lenka Radova of the Czech Republic finished fifth with a time of 2:07:38.

All 74 newly-elected Social Democratic MPs have vowed not to support a government coalition made up of the Civic Democrats, the Christian Democrats, and the Green Party if such a coalition is led by the Civic Democratic Chairman, Mirek Topolanek. This declaration has been signed by all the new Social Democratic MPs and is important because Mr. Topolanek needs to push the balance of support to 101 seats, rather than the proposed coalition's current mandate of 100 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.

Social Democratic leader, Jiri Paroubek, is in favour of a caretaker government, though he admits that if he were entrusted with forming a government he would aim for a political government, and not the caretaker variety. Meanwhile, deputy chairman of the Social Democrats, Bohuslav Sobotka, has said that the Civic Democratic Party should rid itself of the illusion that it will secure the number of votes possible to govern.

A vote-of-confidence in the new government is expected to take place on June 27th.

The Social Democratic Party will most likely not appeal the election results, as its leader Jiri Paroubek suggested last weekend after the votes were counted. In an unexpected speech on election night, the defeated Mr. Paroubek refused to acknowledge that the Civic Democrats won the elections, and he likened the results to an "assault on democracy not seen since February 1948," when the Communists took power. After meeting with President Klaus at Prague Castle on Thursday, Mr. Paroubek made a public apology for his emotionally-charged speech.

Now one week after the elections, Mr. Paroubek says that it is unlikely that his party will file an appeal with the Supreme Court. Eleven appeals have already been filed during the past week, and Mr. Paroubek is satisfied that the courts will be busy enough with this matter.