Daily news summary
President backs outgoing protocol head for Vatican post
The outgoing head of protocol at Prague Castle, Jindřich Forejt, who asked to leave his post citing personal and health reasons on Tuesday after images were released by a news website allegedly showed him snorting an unidentified white substance, would be the Czech Republic’s ambassador to the Vatican, if it were up to the head of the state. President Miloš Zeman told reporters it was his “personal wish” that Mr Forejt, who he praised for his past work, to hold the post, but made clear that would depend on the Czech Foreign Ministry and whether Forejt received an agrément. The president said he had not spoken with Mr Forejt, who is currently on sick-leave. The head of protocol is to step down on December 31 of this year.
State Prosecutors Office should investigate incriminating Forejt material, says interior minister
The State Prosecutors Office should investigate whether incriminating material (allegedly showing the head of protocol at Prague Castle, Jindřich Forejt, snorting an unidentified substance) could have been used to try and blackmail the official, Interior Minister Milan Chovanec has said. According to the minister, the video should also be investigated by the National Security Authority. The minister stressed that key questions remained over whether the video was created for the purposes of blackmailing Mr Forejt or others in his circle, or for other criminal purposes. He added that the method by which the material had been offered for sale to media sites was also unusual. Following the publication of screenshots from the video online, Mr Forejt tendered his resignation, citing personal and health reasons.
Zeman: Periods of economic growth should see budget surplus
Addressing lawmakers in the lower house on Wednesday, President Miloš Zeman said that in the time of economic growth the state budget should see a surplus. He made the statement ahead of the debate on the government’s draft budget for 2017, which is counting on a deficit of 60 billion crowns (the equivalent of around 2.22 billion euros). The head of state has backed the proposal and had praise for the handling of the budget this year; he suggested the government look for additional cost-saving measures in the areas of subsidies for renewables and some social benefits.
Czech National Bank: Second biggest intervention to keep crown weak carried out in October
In October, the Czech National Bank (ČNB) carried out its second biggest intervention on the currency markets since launching a policy to keep the Czech crown weak against the euro in November 2013. The central bank put some 107 billion crowns (around 6.3 billion euros) into ensuring the crown remained at around 27 to the common European currency, officials revealed. The Czech National Bank board has signalled that it will not abandon the policy, which benefits exporters, before the middle of 2017.
Former Czech PM bestowed with the French Legion of Honour
On Tuesday, France, represented by French Ambassador to the Czech Republic Charles Malinas, bestowed former prime minister Vladimír Špidla with the Legion of Honour, the country’s highest distinction. Mr Špidla received the honour for his role in furthering Czech-French relations and for his long support of European integration. Vladimír Špidla headed the Czech government at the time of the accession of the Czech Republic to the European Union, in May 2004. He later served as European Commissioner for Employment, Social affairs and Equal Opportunities. He is currently a chief aide to Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka.
Tickets for Rammstein Prague concerts go quickly
Organisers this week added a second Prague date – May 29, 2017 – for the legendary German industrial band Rammstein, after a first concert to be held a day earlier at the city’s Eden Stadium quickly sold out. The last time the band performed in the capital was in 2011. Czech Radio reported that prices by re-sellers online had risen as high as 26,700 crowns (the equivalent of almost 1,000 euros). Official distributors Ticketpro and Ticketportal have warned buyers not to purchase from third parties, at the risk of buying forged, and therefore useless, tickets.
Weather forecast
Thursday should be mostly cloudy. Temperatures during the day should reach highs of around 4 degrees Celsius.
