Press Review
The return of two Czech drug mules from Thai prisons to see out their sentences in Czech jails receives a lot of attention in Tuesday's dailies, as does the ongoing search for a Czech European commissioner. LIDOVE NOVINY reports that most of the governing Social Democrats' potential candidates lack the language requirements for the job.
One of the names which comes up in a list of possible candidates is the outspoken former prime minister, Milos Zeman. It would be fantastic if Mr Zeman got the job, says LIDOVE NOVINY, but it is unlikely, as his successor, Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla, does not have the "sense of show" to allow Mr Zeman to stand.
MLADA FRONTA DNES, meanwhile, looks at June's elections to the European Parliament, which will of course be the first in the Czech Republic's history. Harping on about politicians' pay, cars and property is a common feature of the Czech media, and MLADA FRONTA DNES points out that the country's first MEPs will be paid 18 times the Czech national average wage. Plus expenses.
The second biggest grouping in the three-party coalition, the Christian Democrats, have had some success in advancing their Christian agenda since they came to power, says HOSPODARSKE NOVINY. That despite the fact that the Czech Republic is one of the most atheistic countries in the world. The party is currently blocking legislation on same sex partnerships and pushing to have tax breaks for having children only apply to married couples, which, HOSPODARSKE NOVINY points out, would make getting married pay financially.
In another article, the same daily says the Christian Democrats are also pushing for the introduction of a "three strikes" law, under which offenders who repeatedly broke the law would serve very long sentences. Meanwhile, the Social Democrat Justice Minister, Karel Cermak, has come out against such legislation, which he says is inhumane. The head of the Czech Prison Service is also opposed to the idea.
Sexual harassment is not flirtation which is pleasant to both parties, but is actually a form of violence. So writes Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla in PRAVO. In most cases it is primitive blackmail and abuse of power, writes the prime minister, who is clearly angry that an anti-sexual harassment bill was blocked by the Senate at the end of last year. Mr Spidla concludes the piece by saying he is confident the upper house will approve the bill next time round.
MLADA FRONTA DNES assesses the reaction to Czech Television's drama series Hospital on the Edge of Town: 20 Years Later, which as the name suggests was a continuation of a hugely successful old serial. Almost three and a half million people tuned in to the penultimate episode last week, so many people watched it, even if - as some viewers' opinions carried in the paper suggest - some did so with reservations.
