Insight Central Europe News

Catholics joined millions around the world in mourning the death of Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II, the first Slav head of the Catholic Church in history, died at just after nine-thirty on Saturday evening. At noon on Sunday, church bells tolled throughout the country to honour the Pontiff. To most Central Europeans the Pope was a great person who led an untiring fight for human rights, both before and after the end of the Cold War. He was hugely respected for his role in helping to bring about the fall of communism.

Czech government survives vote of no-confidence

The Czech government on Friday survived a vote of no-confidence in the Lower House despite losing its parliamentary majority earlier this week. Although the withdrawal of the Christian Democratic Party left the government of Social Democrats and the Freedom Union with only 80 votes in the 200 member lower house, it survived the no-confidence motion thanks to indirect support from the communists who abstained in the vote. The no-confidence vote was supported by 78 deputies from the right wing Civic Democratic Party and the Christian Democrats. The Social Democrats, the Freedom Union and the Communists either voted against the motion or abstained.

Human rights group records increasing racist incidents in Austria

The Vienna-based human rights group ZARA - which monitors racism and racist incidents in Austria - says there's been a dramatic rise in reported racist incidents. The group has just released its annual report. It says for last year, 2004, there were over 900 reported cases of racism or racist incidents - that's a significant increase compared with previous years. The report covers reported cases of discrimination, verbal abuse and attacks.

APV: Second attempt to privatize Hungarian airline fails

The second attempt within a year to privatize the ailing Hungarian national carrier Malev has failed, the state privatisation agency APV has announced. An independent evaluation committee had recommended that he APV board declare the latest tender invalid. The Hungarian state owns all but .05 percent of Malev, which is saddled with debts amounting to nearly 190 million US dollars.

Slovakia to ratify EU constitution in May

Slovakia will seek to ratify the European Constitution in May, said a spokesman for the chairman of the Slovak parliament. The treaty, which is meant to ensure the smooth running of the European Union since its expansion from 15 to 25 member states last year, must be ratified by each country in order to become valid. The Christian Democrats, one of the ruling coalition parties in the Slovak government, had pushed for a referendum, saying the treaty needed a stronger reference to the Christian roots of Europe and that it forced members to give up too much sovereignty, but the party withdrew its demand last month.