• Politicians start debating reform package
    08/14/2007

    The lower house started debating the government's controversial reform package on Tuesday. The debate was opened by Finance Minister, Miroslav Kalousek, who reiterated that the aim of the package was to reduce the deficit in public spending to below 3% GDP. The opposition responded that the reforms were 'against all plain common sense'. If approved, the reforms will have an impact on almost all areas of life. Among the most controversial are the proposed income and corporate tax reforms, and a financial restructuring of the health system, bringing with it the introduction of medical fees.

    The opposition is against the package and, with the smallest of majorities, the ruling coalition of the Civic Democrats, the Christian Democrats and the Greens will need the support of every one of its deputies to push the reforms through. Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek has linked his cabinet's future to the success of the reforms, saying that he will resign if they fail to win approval.
    Author: Rosie Johnston

  • Trade Unions protest against reforms
    08/14/2007

    In protest against the planned reforms, trade unions staged a mass demonstration outside of the lower house on Tuesday afternoon. Several hundred people took part in the protests. Shortly before the government started their debate on the reforms, union representatives handed over a sack of letters lobbying individual MPs. Trade unions say that the proposed reforms will benefit the rich and hurt the middle and lower classes.
    Author: Rosie Johnston

  • Fifty-five percent of Czechs say reform is necessary
    08/14/2007

    Meanwhile, the results of an opinion poll conducted by the Median agency indicate that 55% of Czechs understand and accept the need for reform. Only 10% of Czechs strictly oppose it. The highest rate of support comes from people aged 18 to 24. Labour and SocialAffairs Minister Petr Necas said this was "encouraging news".
    Author: Rosie Johnston

  • Case of Green-Party MP beaten by policeman reopened
    08/14/2007

    The case against Tomas Cermak, the police officer who was accused of beating-up Green party deputy Katerina Jacques, is to be reopened. The announcement was made by a spokesman for the State Attorney's Office on Wednesday morning. Mrs Jacques accuses Mr Cermak of attacking and beating her for no reason during an Anti-Nazi May-Day protest march back in 2006.

    Following on from the incident, Mr Cermak lost his job and was charged with abuse of public office. But his case was shelved in November last year, when the State Attorney concluded that there were insufficient grounds for prosecution, and that Mr Cermak had acted in line with police regulations when he arrested Mrs Jacques. Mr Cermak now awaits trail.
    Author: Rosie Johnston

  • Prague now protected against floods
    08/14/2007

    At a press conference marking the fifth anniversary of the devastating 2002 floods, mayor of Prague Pavel Bem said that the City Hall had invested 2 billion CZK (100 million USD) into flood protection. He said that 95% of the city was now protected against a disaster of such magnitude and that in the event of a flood, the new protection system could be erected within 24 hours. 40 billion CZK have gone into construction and reconstruction work.
    Author: Rosie Johnston

  • Social Democrats call for presidential election to be postponed
    08/14/2007

    The head of the Social Democrats, Jiri Paroubek, and former Health Minister, David Rath, would like to postpone presidential elections until the 7th of March 2008 at the earliest, reported Lidove Noviny on Tuesday. The current president Vaclav Klaus' mandate expires on the 7th of February, and if elections were put-back, then he would be forced to move out of Prague Castle, where he currently holds office, and lose the right to his current PR team. Mr. Rath told Lidove Noviny that this would only be fair, allowing any candidate running against Mr Klaus in the 2008 elections the same privileges as the current president. Civic Democrat MPs have called this an attempt to 'humiliate' the president, and are describing the suggestion as 'petty'. The suggestions have not been heeded by the head of the lower house, who has said that he will not be calling elections any later than the 8th of February.
    Author: Rosie Johnston

  • Czech embassies in Uruguay, Singapore and Zimbabwe to close
    08/14/2007

    The Czech Republic is to close its embassies in Uruguay, Singapore and Zimbabwe, it was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday. Consulates in Bonne, Cape Town, Katowice and Milan will also be shut down. The government says that it has taken this step so as to plough more resources into the Czech Republic's 2009 EU presidency, and the country's entrance into the Schengen zone. The decision will affect around 120 people in total.
    Author: Rosie Johnston

  • Sparta fans warned against racist behaviour
    08/14/2007

    Ahead of its Champions' League tie with Arsenal on Wednesday, Sparta Prague has warned its fans that it will not tolerate racism. Both the team's captain, Tomas Repka, and coach, Michal Bilek, have spoken out against racist chants and behaviour in the national press. Sparta has said that it will up its surveillance for the match, installing more CCTVs and deploying undercover agents to infiltrate the fans. Those breaching anti-racism rules will face fines and even possible criminal prosecution. Sparta has had to pay for its fans' racist behaviour in the past. In 2005, UEFA fined the club 900 thousand CZK (45 thousand USD), when racist fans sabotaged a Champions' League fixture against Dutch club Ajax.
    Author: Rosie Johnston

  • Government fine-tunes reform package
    08/13/2007

    The centre-right government is meeting to fine-tune its reform package ahead of a debate in Parliament due to open on Tuesday. The reforms aim to reduce the deficit in public spending to below three percent of GDP and will have an impact on almost all areas of life. Among the most controversial are the proposed tax reform and a reform of the health sector envisaging the introduction of fees for medical services. The opposition has said it will fight the proposal all the way and with its slim majority in the lower house the government needs to reach agreement on all disputed issues. The prime minister has linked his cabinet's future to the reform package saying he would resign if it failed to win approval.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Trade unions planning protest action against reforms
    08/13/2007

    Trade unions are planning a mass protest against the planned reforms outside Parliament on Tuesday, the day the lower house is due to start debating proposed amendments to the reform package. The organizers say they expect several hundred people to take part. Trade unions say the planned reforms will benefit the rich and hurt the middle and lower classes.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

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