Press Review
There are a variety of stories on Wednesday's front pages, though both PRAVO and MLADA FRONTA DNES lead with Vaclav Havel's early return from Asia. The former president was due to spend three weeks there, but had to abandon the trip after just three days due to breathing problems. Another name in the news is Czech cross-country skier Katerina Neumannova: several papers carry photos of Ms Neumannova, who on Tuesday won her second World Cup race in a row, just six months after having a baby.
Czechs travelling to European Union countries after their country joins the Union in May should perhaps bring their passports with them. PRAVO reports that it is not clear whether all types of Czech official ID - specifically older ID, which is in book form - will be accepted in all EU states. However, Czechs in possession of newer ID cards should not face any problems, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry tells the daily.
HOSPODARSKE NOVINY reports that organised crime is on the increase in areas of north Bohemia affected by high levels of unemployment, with mafia-like organisations in Most and Litvinov forcing the owners of local nightclubs to pay protection money. The owner of a disco in Most where two youths were recently shot dead by security guards says the gangs demand 10,000 crowns a month. That may not sound like much, but it's a fair amount when they get it from 40 nightspots, he tells the daily.
LIDOVE NOVINY leads with the story that Miroslav Grebenicek, who has led the Communist Party for over a decade, has survived a serious attempt to oust him. A group of Communists around deputy leader Jiri Dolejs - who is keen to modernise the party - reportedly offered Mr Grebenicek the chance to run for the European Parliament, if he stepped down as party boss.
Neither of the main players in the story was willing to speak to LIDOVE NOVINY, though Mr Dolejs did say he believed Mr Grebenicek, who is seen as a hardliner, was one reason why other parties would not deal with the Communists at the parliamentary level. The leadership issue is likely to dominate the party's next conference, which takes place in five months' time.
A march by around 50 monarchists through the centre of Prague on Tuesday is featured in several dailies. Many of the marchers carried yellow and black flags featuring images of Emperor Franz Josef I. A sovereign who was not involved in everyday politics would be impartial and not involved in scandals, one of the organisers of the march for monarchy tells LIDOVE NOVINY.
Many of today's papers carry photos of Prague Mayor Pavel Bem enjoying a glass of champagne with representatives of the Chimney Sweeps Union. The sweeps, several of them elderly gentlemen, are shown in their traditional white hats, augmented by sashes and medals. Members of their profession have visited the capital's mayor every year on Three Kings' Day since 1868, MLADA FRONTA reports.
