Press Review

Most of the Czech newspapers on Wednesday carry a picture of Pavel Bem from the Civic Democratic party who is going to become Prague's new mayor. He is shown shaking hands with his colleague from the left-of-centre Social Democratic Party, Jiri Paroubek as the Czech capital will be ruled by a right-left coalition for the next four years.

The business daily HOSPODARSKE NOVINY writes that this is because the Civic Democrats have rejected cooperation with the European Democrats - the party led by Jan Kasl, who left the Civic Democrats in May and resigned as Prague's mayor, because of alleged corruption at the Town Hall.

The paper writes that the Civic and Social Democrats have already discussed coalition agreements, which are to be confirmed by both party organisations. The agreement envisages seven councillors for the Civic Democrats and four for the Social Democratic Party in the city's leadership.

MLADA FRONTA DNES carries a long article on how the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Zdenek Skromach is preparing for a crack-down on bogus sick leave, with the aim of saving the state millions in benefits. One measure being considered is that sickness benefits for the first few days or even weeks would be paid by employers. The state pays at present.

With a NATO summit in Prague drawing near, PRAVO writes that the Minister of the Interior, Stanislav Gross fears a possible terrorist attack more than anti-globalization protesters. After Tuesday's session of the Government Security Council, Minister Gross expressed the hope that street riots would be not as extensive as they were during an IMF-World Bank meeting in Prague two years ago.

According to Mr. Gross, Prague is in contact with foreign intelligence services, that's why information that the Czech intelligence service is getting is identical with that of the allies. PRAVO reports, however, that although there are no indications of a terrorist attack so far, the Interior Ministry is getting so much information that not everything has been evaluated and analysed yet.

And finally on a cultural note: 'Barrandov will shoot its own films', reads a headline in LIDOVE NOVINY. As of December 1st, the Barrandov film studios in Prague are about to introduce a project called Creative Service, whose main objective will be making Czech films. The Service will seek original stories, choose screenplays and manage funds from both domestic and foreign sources.

In the past ten years, the Barrandov studios - which are said to be the largest in Europe - have been busy, mainly with Hollywood filmmakers using the cheap, but highly professional Barrandov personnel.