Press Review

In today's papers the usual photos of politicians have taken a back seat to pictures of St. Nicholas - that's right, it's "Mikulas" in the Czech Republic again, a special holiday here that acts as a run-up to Christmas. On the day many adults and teenagers dress up as St. Nick or devils and angels, to visit small children around the country to give them token presents and find out if they've been good or bad. And while tourists on Prague's Old Town Square are sometimes taken aback to see little kids bawling for fear of the devil, all ends well: St. Nick and the angel always step in to chase the devil away.

We leave Mikulas behind now for more serious stories making the news: for instance today's LIDOVE NOVINY reports on the continuing debate over rent control vs. rent deregulation in the Czech Republic. On Thursday the ombudsman Otakar Motejl urged tenants not to pay higher rents after some landlords began raising prices, saying, that in his view rents would be frozen till a new law was adopted. Just over two weeks ago the Constitutional Court struck down the country's controversial rent system, which set rent controls for some, while leaving the rest of the market open. The paper writes that Mr Motejl is warning tenants not to sign new leases until new legislation is passed.

Now, wondering who the Social Democrats will put forward as their candidate in the up-coming presidential elections? The financial daily HOSPODARSKE NOVINY writes that most likely it will be the former Justice Minister Jaroslav Bures, a man considered quite the outsider just a few weeks ago. All that changed after the party held a non-binding referendum that saw Mr Bures come in a surprising second, behind former prime minister Milos Zeman. But, because Zeman is interested only in running if a first election fails, it looks like Bures will get the call. HOSPODARSKE NOVINY writes, however, it is not likely his candidacy would find necessary support among any of the other parties. The paper goes on to look at possible outcomes for the current prime minister Vladimir Spidla, if he is unable to derail Milos Zeman's tentative presidential bid. According to the paper if Mr Zeman did take office it would spell trouble for the current prime minister, who favors a different kind of politics - namely not making deals with the right-of-centre Civic Democrats.

Continuing with politics - now that Vaclav Havel is getting ready to leave office PRAVO reports that Czech lawmakers are considering extending the president 's order of T.G. Masaryk, one of the highest orders in the country that recognizes excellence in promoting democracy. The honor is normally held only during the president's term in office but some Czech senators would like to see Mr Havel given the medal as a lifelong honor, as a way of thanking the outgoing president for his years of service.

PRAVO says however, that the Senate-inspired proposal is certain to meet resistance in the Lower House. Reactions have been mostly negative so far: Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda has said that those who bestow honors shouldn't be getting them, while Civic Democrat Ivan Langer commented he didn't like the use of the term "lifelong". Culture Minister Pavel Dostal also said he would find it strange if Mr Havel was to bestow the honor himself. One of Mr Havel's greater political rivals Civic Democrat Vaclav Klaus refused to comment entirely.