Press Review
The planned reform of public finances, relief over a negative SARS test and EU-related matters - these are the main stories on most of Wednesday's front pages. Further from home the papers have given space to the British Prime Minister Tony Blair celebrating his fiftieth birthday, two Czechs jailed in Thailand who have been given fresh hope of coming home, and the work of the Czech field hospital team in Basra. Pravo has gone for a couple of girls in bathing suits - citing Tuesday's 28.4 degrees temperature record.
The reform of public finances is long overdue and finance minister Bohuslav Sobotka means business, says Lidove noviny. He is threatening to go if the reform is not approved. "The government wants to take money away from the sick," reads a dramatic headline in today's Mlada fronta Dnes. Allegedly the proposed reform envisages less money for the unemployed, smaller sick-leave benefits and extending the retirement age by another two years.
A meeting at Lany Chateau to which President Klaus has invited representatives of all parliamentary parties to debate EU accession matters has generated plenty of publicity. It is not the topic itself which has attracted media attention, but the fact that, unlike his predecessor, President Klaus has invited the Communists to attend.
The last time that a democratically elected president talked to the communists was more than half a century ago, when President Benes met with then communist leader Klement Gottwald, notes Hospodarske noviny. "President Klaus is paying his dues," says Lidove noviny, referring to the promise which Vaclav Klaus made during his election campaign. In return, he received the backing of the Communists.
It will be interesting to see how the Communists contribute to a debate on EU membership, says Lidove noviny, since they are the only party which is dead set against it. Pravo notes that the Communists' presence at the talks will counterbalance the strongly pro-EU stand of the governing parties who are in favour of a common European defense and foreign policy. Although President Klaus and the Civic Democrats are in favour of EU accession, they strongly oppose that kind of integration and the Communists will certainly back them on this point, says Pravo.
The paper also points out that although the three governing parties are strongly in favour of EU accession, their public campaigns in support of the EU have left Czechs cold. The paper notes that they aren't really making much of an effort. The Social Democrats have adopted a "no sweat" attitude, the Christian Democrats went for a mentoring scenario warning Czechs about the various disasters that could befall them if they fail to vote in favour of EU membership in June's referendum, while the Freedom Union's rally attracted only a few youngsters thanks to the presence of a clown, the paper says.
And finally, Mlada fronta Dnes carries a report that will make many a Czech driver nostalgic. The legendary Trabi - which so many Czechs drove before the fall of communism, and which has now become a collectors' item - may yet make a triumphant come back. A number of German entrepreneurs are considering renewing production since Africa appears to be a promising market. "The car is so simple, so cheap and practically indestructible - it is perfect for the developing countries," says the group which is determined to bring it back to life - and name it AfriCar.
