Related articles
Current AffairsGeneral elections just hours away
Less than twenty-four hours before polling stations open for general
elections the two strongest parties on the Czech political scene - the
ruling Social Democrats and the opposition Civic Democrats - are running a
very tight race. Although it is not clear which of them will be first past
the post it is almost certain that neither will win enough votes to set up
its own majority government. Coalition and consensus is the name of the
game on the Czech political scene and political analysts are already
debating the pros and cons of various coalition scenarios.
More
Talking PointNew Czech Labour Code mobilises trade unions into action after sixteen year slumber
The Czech Labour Code is to be amended - but the question is how? Will it
serve the rights of the employer or the employee? The changes proposed by
the senior ruling coalition party, the Social Democratic Party, and passed
through the first reading in the lower house of Parliament, uphold the
authority of trade unions. That, say the opposition Civic Democrats and
the two junior ruling coalition parties the Christian Democrats and the
Freedom Union, is unacceptable: by making it difficult for employers to
let go of unproductive staff and employ new people, the proposed new
Labour Code threatens the flexibility of the labour market and is
unconstitutional.
More
Current AffairsPrime Minister agrees to Unipetrol probe but on his own terms
The scandal over the privatization of the petrochemicals firm Unipetrol,
following accusations of corruption directed at the ruling Social
Democrats, has taken an unexpected turn. After firmly rejecting calls for
a probe into the privatization process, some of which came from his own
coalition partners the Christian Democrats, Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek
suddenly changed his mind. An investigation will take place and it will
most likely take place on the Prime Minister's own terms.
More
Current AffairsPrime Minister tells the Christian Democrats to play ball or leave the Cabinet
Although general elections in the Czech Republic are eight months away,
this weekend marked the beginning of what commentators predict will be a
tough election campaign. The impulse came from the ruling Social
Democratic Party which held a meeting of its leadership over the weekend.
More
+1
