Press Review

I hate to bore you with the presidential elections, but that's what's dominating the headlines today, two days before parliament has another bash at choosing a successor to President Vaclav Havel. The consensus among the papers is that Friday's second attempt will be as hopeless as the first - "Failure looms again for presidential vote" says MLADA FRONTA DNES today.

The popular daily says the entry into the race of Senator Jaroslava Moserova - nominated by a junior coalition party - means an inconclusive second vote is almost a certainty. Neither she, nor Civic Democrat candidate Vaclav Klaus, nor the Social Democrats' Milos Zeman will be able to conjure up enough support for victory on Friday, writes MLADA FRONTA DNES.

What's more, says the paper, Senator Moserova stands a good chance of knocking out Vaclav Klaus in the first round - indeed some analysts believe that is precisely why she was nominated in the first place. With Mr Klaus out of the game, the second and third rounds would be a mostly pointless battle between her and Milos Zeman. Neither looks likely to be able to garner enough support to become president.

That hasn't deterred the candidates from having a go, however. PRAVO reports that Mr Zeman - the party's rather oafish former leader and ex-PM - spent most of Tuesday in talks with potential political allies, including the Communists. Milos Zeman needs strong Communist backing before he can even dream of winning, because not everyone in his own Social Democrats will vote for him.

Among Mr Zeman's detractors is the man who succeeded him as party leader and premier - Vladimir Spidla. PRAVO says that Mr Spidla - under fire for mishandling the election - was one of the 14 Social Democrat MPs who refused to sign Mr Zeman's official nomination, a pointed reminder as to where he stands on the matter. Mr Spidla later told the BBC that he hadn't signed because Mr Zeman had already gathered enough signatures.

Moving on, and MLADA FRONTA DNES writes today that the government is toughening up its EU referendum campaign, after claims it wasn't aggressive enough. Apparently the campaign - still in its embryonic stage - was a bit too wishy-washy. Now, TV ads and posters will order the Czech public to "Vote For The EU", instead of the rather non-committal "You Decide - EU Membership Is Up To You."

And finally regular listeners to my press reviews will be used to stories about horrible snarling dogs and their criminally negligent owners, and today is no exception. All the papers cover a shocking attack in the Silesian town of Opava, where a man was killed at the weekend by a German shepherd. The dog belonged to the man's neighbour, who set it upon him during a drunken argument.

LIDOVE NOVINY has all the gruesome details. The man died from massive loss of blood after being admitted to hospital with deep gashes to his head, arms, legs and upper body. Neighbours said the two men were often drunk, and argued frequently. The dog's owner is reported to have shouted "Get him Rocky!" before the Alsatian launched its frenzied - and fatal - attack.