• Coalition "no longer exists", says Christian Democrat leader
    01/29/2006

    The three-party governing coalition has ceased to exist, says the leader of the second largest coalition party, the Christian Democrats. Miroslav Kalousek told Czech Television that the largest party, the Social Democrats, were counting on co-operating with the Communists after elections in June. But Social Democrat chief Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek,said his party had never considered, were not considering and would not consider any such a scenario.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Social Democrats vote on pre-election manifesto
    01/29/2006

    The Social Democrats are to include direct elections to the post of president in their pre-election manifesto, after a vote on the issue at a policy conference in Prague. The party also promise to create 150,000 new jobs in the Czech Republic and to cut unemployment to 6 percent.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Klaus may not sign bill allowing registered gay partnerships
    01/28/2006

    President Vaclav Klaus has indicated that he may not sign into law a bill allowing for registered partnerships for homosexuals. The president has expressed opposition to the law in the past, and told journalists they could expect his decision to follow "quite clear indices". The bill was passed by the Senate on Thursday after previously being approved by the lower house.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Paroubek rules out co-operation with Communists, expects minority Social Democrat government
    01/28/2006

    The Social Democrat prime minister, Jiri Paroubek, has again ruled out post-election co-operation with the Communist Party. Speaking at a party policy conference on Saturday, Mr Paroubek said a minority Social Democrat government was the most likely outcome of general elections in June. He said a third of the cabinet in such a scenario would be made up of non-party "experts".
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Social Democrats choose orange as colour for elections, Civic Democrats to do likewise
    01/28/2006

    The Social Democrats have, as expected chosen orange as the main colour in their election campaign. Prime Minster Paroubek said the colour was modern and confident. The main opposition party, the Civic Democrats, say they too will use orange.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Civic Democrats bring out ads linking Communists, Social Democrats
    01/28/2006

    The Civic Democrats have launched an advertising campaign linking the Communist Party with the Social Democrats, under the combined acronym KSCSSD. However an advertising company has refused to put the poster up on billboards outside the Social Democrats conference in Prague. The firm Euro AWK said such a campaign harmed the advertising profession.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czech Republic not to veto EU-wide sales tax
    01/28/2006

    The Czech Republic says it will probably not veto a European Union-wide sales tax, raising chances that a row between some new member states and the older members could be resolved. The Czech Republic, Poland and Cyprus had come out against an agreement that would allow value added tax on some services in several member states to be kept below EU norms. They said the plan, put forward by Austria, discriminated against newcomers, which have cut-off dates to abolish tax breaks and meet higher rates in line with EU requirements.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Condoms no longer produced in Czech Republic
    01/28/2006

    The only Czech condom maker has halted manufacturing. Vulkan Intim Brands, based in north Bohemia, has decided to import and package German-made condoms under the company's traditional Primeros brand name. A spokesperson told Mlada fronta Dnes that German-made condoms were cheaper and of a higher quality.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czech Damm and partner Paes beaten in Australian Open doubles final
    01/28/2006

    The Czech Republic's Martin Damm and his Indian partner Leander Paes have been beaten in the doubles final at tennis's Australian Open. In a dramatic match in Melbourne on Saturday, they lost to twins Mike and Bob Bryan of the United States in three sets.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Number of 'gymnasiums' could double under new plan
    01/27/2006

    The number of 'gymnasiums' - secondary schools which prepare students for university - could double under a new plan by the Czech Ministry of Education. The proposal comes in response to increasing numbers of applications in recent years.

    Deputy Prime Minister for the Economy Jiri Havel said the number of Czechs taking university degrees would increase from the present 50 percent to 80 percent in the future. Mr Havel and Education Minister Petra Buzkova are to put the new plan to the leadership of their party the Social Democrats next week.

    Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek says one or two international universities should be created in the Czech Republic in the years ahead. He said on Friday that existing Czech universities - which already operate at international standards - could be upgraded.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

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