Press Review
Government reform plans and the future of the European Union dominate the headlines today. On the international front, the papers discuss whether the former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was killed in the recent war and whether he had managed to destroy weapons of mass destruction before the US-led war erupted.
Government reform plans and the future of the European Union dominate the headlines today. On the international front, the papers discuss whether the former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was killed in the recent war and whether he had managed to destroy weapons of mass destruction before the US-led war erupted.
Today's PRAVO warns the government that its reforms could run into difficulties in the form of former Social Democrat leader and prime minister Milos Zeman. Mr Zeman, who still has a considerable number of supporters in the party, is reportedly deeply dissatisfied with his successor Vladimir Spidla's style of government and leadership. He also objects strongly to the proposed public finance reforms.
Zeman and other, mostly former prominent figures of the Social Democratic Party met last Friday in a wine cellar belonging to one of them. Many of them, writes PRAVO, believe that the state can afford to run high fiscal deficits if it can help accelerate economic growth. "We did discuss the current situation," one of them confessed, but added that there could be no talk of a conspiracy.
The same paper interviewed the head of the trade unions in the education sector, Frantisek Dobsik. He tells the daily that the unions recognise the necessity of reforms but call on the government to increase budget revenues to maintain reasonable growth of wages of civil servants. Mr Dobsik believes that the proposed state expenditure cuts will be so painful that there could be really massive protests, including strikes.
MLADA FRONTA DNES devotes almost a full print page to the risks and threats EU candidate countries will face after their accession. There are many factors, the paper writes, which could endanger economic development in the former East bloc countries, such as preparations for the adoption of the single currency, high public debts, and unfavourable demographic development.
MLADA FRONTA DNES presents two extreme scenarios for the Czech Republic. One of them is rather grim: the adoption of Euro will be a failure, continuing growth of public finance deficit will undermine the country's reputation and hamper economic growth. These will couple with unsuccessful pension reform and a brain drain.
On the other hand, according to optimistic scenarios, the Czech Republic will attract foreign capital, Czech companies will easily find their place on the common market and the living standard will grow so fast that few people will be tempted to seek a better life abroad. What will actually happen, the daily concludes, will depend on the capabilities of the government and the wisdom of its policies.
LIDOVE NOVINY carries a photo of Czech Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla and Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel during the EU summit in Porto Carras in Greece. However, they are not dressed in smart suites but t-shirts and shorts, as they could not resist the opportunity to have a good morning jog together.
Mr Spidla is known for taking part in long-distance runs, often in the company of other politicians, such as the Slovak Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda. This passion of Mr Spidla's, remarks LIDOVE NOVINY, gives his bodyguards a hard time. He told the paper though he believed they have gotten used to his regular ten or fifteen kilometre runs.
