Press Review

All the papers lead with stories as varying as former environment minister Milos Kuzvart's appointment as the Czech Republic's first commissioner to the European Union, the government's failure to begin discussion on a bill on same-sex marriages, and a potential crisis in the cabinet over rising rents. We begin, however, with the daily Mlada Fronta Dnes, where the lead headline declares "Czechs are losing the opportunity to work in Europe".

The article reacts to British Prime Minister Tony Blair's statement Wednesday expressing new fears over economic migration from new EU countries, joining May 1st. The Czech Republic is one of ten preparing to join. Mlada Fronta Dnes writes Britain will now review the situation. The daily also says that - contrary to previous expectations - it is becoming increasingly clear Czechs will not be able to work freely in a number of EU countries from day one, a ban lasting for a number of years, varying from country to country. That, says the daily, is bad news, considering the free movement of labour was one of the most compelling reasons Czechs voted "Yes" on the EU in a referendum held last summer.

As for the Czech reaction Mlada Fronta Dnes writes that some Czech diplomats have been unable to hide a growing bitterness: the daily quotes Deputy Foreign Minister Jan Kohout admitting [diplomats] are dissatisfied and a little disillusioned with the latest news. Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla himself indicated on Wednesday that the government has registered the new trend, saying he would be unhappy if [new bans were enforced]. In a brief overview Mlada Fronta Dnes notes that countries like Sweden and Italy will probably enforce a freeze on Czech migrant workers, which the daily says would be a turn-around from promises made just two years ago. However, the matter is still in negotiation. Germany, Austria, and other EU countries like Denmark have said "No" outright, while Britain is wavering. At the moment the UK's answer is "Yes", but the question is, for how long?

Demonstration of the Gay and Lesbian League, photo: CTK

Speaking of disillusionment, many Czech gays and lesbians could not have been happy with the Czech cabinet decision on Wednesday to take the topic of same-sex partnership off the table for discussion once again. Lidove Noviny writes it is the 2nd time in as many weeks the cabinet has failed to discuss putting forward a bill that would recognise the legal status of same-sex partnerships.

It is a hot issue, says the daily, because of increasing protest from the junior Christian Democrats, who are clearly against such a bill. The daily says that although the Social Democrats enjoy the senior position in power, they are unwilling to risk a government crisis at this time.

But, there is speculation the Social Democrats may put forward a bill on their own, an idea also being considered by the other junior government party, the Freedom Union. At the moment it is uncertain how the bill would fare in Parliament - there are indications there is a relatively low chance it would pass; this despite the fact that current surveys show that almost 80 percent of Czechs would support same-sex registration.

If you put out the fires in one corner it doesn't mean they can't spring up in another and Thursday's Pravo uses the word 'crisis' to describe yet another problem haranguing the coalition government: the rise of rents and eventual easing of regulated rents in the Czech Republic. Agreement on rents increasing by 10 percent was reached by government parties in January. Now, Labour and Social Affairs Minister Zdenek Skromach has downplayed that a decision was ever reached. Along with Mr Skromach Pravo quotes Social Democrat MP Stanislav Krecek, the head of a tenants' organisation, as saying a rise in September and next year would be unacceptable. Still, the sudden turn-around has come as a surprise to coalition partners in the Freedom Union, such as Karel Kunhl, the paper writes.

Mr Kunhl is quoted as saying the government did reach agreement on a 3-time rise. And, he notes, it makes no sense for the labour and social affairs minister to start undercutting agreements now. In Mr Kunhl's words that could only lead to an upset in the balance of the government. For that reason he remains confident an agreement will be reached in the end - in his view the coalition government really has no other choice.