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WitnessAlistair Beattie and the wrong kind of Skoda
In 1967 the young Scottish music student, Alistair Beattie, won a British
Council scholarship to spend two years studying at the Academy of Musical
Arts in Prague. It proved quite an adventure, as he lived through all the
hopes of the Prague Spring and the bitter disappointment that followed the
Soviet-led invasion. Alistair Beattie was recently in Prague again,
playing the viola in the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. While he was
here he told Radio Prague about his very first experience of
Czechoslovakia thirty-six years ago.
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Press ReviewPress Review
One of the stories featuring predominantly in today's dailies is that of
embattled MP Petr Kott - the Civic Democrat who caused a scandal last week
when he failed to take part in a final reading that passed the
government's fiscal reforms, because he was allegedly drunk.
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Current AffairsCoalition survives no-confidence vote, pushes through reforms
The three party coalition government of Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla has
crossed a major hurdle. Despite its fragile one vote majority in the Lower
House it managed to survive a vote of no-confidence called by the
opposition Civic Democrats and to push through a package of controversial
fiscal reforms which are expected to prepare the country for EU membership
in 2004.
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Current AffairsFiscal reforms find smooth passage through parliament
The Lower House of Czech Parliament has approved in the second reading
eleven bills that constitute a major public finance reform proposed by the
government. Although some coalition MPs had previously voiced their
dissatisfaction with certain reform measures, the cabinet had few problems
pushing the package through.
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Press ReviewPress Review
Without question the main story in all of today's dailies is the ruling coalition's success in overturning a presidential veto on a tax bill amendment raising the country's VAT on some goods and services from 5 to 22 percent. The bill amendment was the first step for the government's planned fiscal reforms, and its passing puts the government on steadier ground. PRAVO writes that President Klaus has "lost his first clash with the coalition" and the daily features a photo of a jubilant Finance Minister Bohulsav Sobotka on its cover. One hurdle overcome, all of today's dailies note the government will face another trial this Friday when it faces a no-confidence vote. More
Current AffairsRuling coalition wins crucial first round in battle over public finance reforms
The centre-left government have won their first major victory in the battle
over planned public finance reforms. The lower house voted on Tuesday to
overrule President Vaclav Klaus's veto of a bill which would substantially
increase VAT. The most important change is that all services currently
charged under the lower rate - 5 percent - will be moved to the upper rate
- 22 percent - as of January 1st, 2004.
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Current AffairsSlim chance of success for Civic Democrat vote of no-confidence
The main opposition Civic Democrats have finally launched their offensive
against the centre-left government, unveiling plans to table a vote of
no-confidence within days. Civic Democrat leader Mirek Topolanek told
reporters on Monday that the government's policies were ruining the
country's economy, political scene and international reputation, and it
must be brought down as soon as possible. Fighting talk, but can it be
translated into action?
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Press ReviewPress Review
The vote of confidence in the government and discussion on its public
finance reform plan in the lower house of parliament this week are
dominating most papers today. All the dailies speculate on the chances of
the opposition Civic Democrats winning a no-vote of confidence and
bringing down the three-party coalition government. Internationally, it's
Monday's terrorist attack on the UN headquarters in Iraq as well as NATO's
new secretary general that make the front pages.
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Press ReviewPress Review
The government session where ministers approved the state budget for next
year finished shortly before today's daily newspapers went to print, so
there is little information and no analysis. Instead, the papers focus on
the government's proposed fiscal reforms which are closely connected with
the budget.
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