News

Czech President hosts Slovak, Croatian and Serbian Counterparts

Czech President Václav Klaus is hosting his counterparts from Slovakia, Croatia and Serbia at the Lány castle near Prague for a two-day meeting. On the agenda are EU-issues such as Croatia’s EU accession and Serbia’s long-term plan to join the union. The four heads of state had decided to hold this meeting at a session of the United Nations‘ General Assembly a year-and-a-half ago.

Prague archbishop elevated to cardinal

Prague Archbishop Dominik Duka was elevated to cardinal at a ceremony in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on Saturday morning. The Prague archbishop is one of 22 new cardinals that Pope Benedict XVI created in the ceremony. Hundreds of Czech pilgrims were in attendance. Dominik Duka was presented with a scarlet biretta and a gold ring, the traditional symbols of the title. As a cardinal, Dominik Duka will be among those clerics authorized to elect a new pope.

On Saturday afternoon, the Prague archbishop led mass for Czech Catholics at Rome’s Church of Saint Gregory VII. The head of Czech diplomacy, Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, was in attendance. On Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI will be celebrating a special mass with the 22 newly named cardinals in St. Peter’s Basilica. Archbishop Duka is the 11th Prague archbishop to be named cardinal.

Opposition puts forward candidates for direct presidential elections

At a party meeting on the weekend, the opposition Social Democrats put forward their two potential candidates for the post of president in the 2013 direct presidential elections. Both economist Jan Švejnar and the party’s deputy chairman Jiří Dienstbier were determined possible nominees; a final decision is expected in May. Mr. Švejnar and Mr. Dienstbier are set to travel across the country to speak to potential voters.

At the two-day meeting, high-ranking party officials will also be discussing the upcoming regional and Senate elections, which party chairman Bohuslav Sobotka has labelled “a referendum on the government of Prime Minister Petr Nečas“. Following the ratification of a new bill, Czechs will be able to elect their head of state in a direct vote for the first time in 2013, when President Klaus’s second term in office expires.

Far-right extremists hold protest march in Jihlava

Several dozen protesters from the Workers’ Youth movement, an organization connected to the far-right Workers’ Party for Social Justice, marched the streets of the city of Jihlava, in the Vysočina region, on Saturday. According to organizers, the march was held to express support to Serbia and protest the “forceful removal” of Kosovo from the country. Some 200 people were trying to block the far-right extremists’ march; police kept the situation under tight control and prevented clashes between extremists and those protesting the march.

Esteemed Czech-American director Miloš Forman turns 80 on Saturday

World-famous Czech-American director Miloš Forman is celebrating his 80th birthday on Saturday. Around the world, Czech Centers are honoring the filmmaker with exhibitions of posters for his films and screenings of his popular works. Mr. Forman, who was born in Čáslav in 1932, left his native Czechoslovakia after the Soviet-led invasion of his home country in 1968. He settled in the United States, where he established himself as one of the most successful directors alive today. His films “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975) and “Amadeus” (1984) were awarded five and eight Academy Awards, respectively.

Sting plays Prague Saturday evening

English singer-songwriter Sting will be performing at Prague’s Congress Center on Saturday evening. The former frontman of the rock band Police is currently touring Europe with his Back to Bass tour. The concert in the Czech capital has been sold out for weeks. Along with his band and jazz singer Jo Lawry, Sting will be performing classics such as “Every Breath You Take“ as well as new material in front of some 3000 visitors. Back to Bass, which marks the 25-year-anniversary of his solo career, kicked off in the UK on February 5th.

Police find body of woman who had been reported missing

Police found the body of a 24-year-old woman, who had gone missing in January, in the city of Liberec on Friday. A police spokeswoman said Saturday that a suspect had been arrested in connection with the case. The young woman had had been missing since January 23. A neighbor had informed police of her disappearance.

Weather

The weekend brings more rain and some snow showers. Daytime temperatures between 2 and 6 degrees Celsius are expected. Nighttime lows can reach up to minus 4 degrees Celsius.