Section Archive Current Affairs
Controversial Prague lobbyist charged with bodily harm; may face further charges connected to wire tap scandal
Prague police have charged the controversial lobbyist Roman Janoušek with
menacing behaviour due to intoxication as well as grievous bodily harm. On
Friday, Mr Janoušek crashed his Porsche into another car in Prague 4, then
hit its driver as he attempted to flee. The news came as the construction
tycoon already found himself in the headlines due to scandal over leaked
wire taps of conversations between him and former mayor of Prague Pavel
Bém. More
Fresh wiretap scandal shows lobbyist’s influence over Prague City Hall
A new scandal has thrown more light on how deals were made at Prague City
Hall, which has frequently come under fire for corrupt practices and
cronyism. Leaked phone wiretaps, recorded by the Czech secret service, show
how former Prague mayor Pavel Bém’s decisions were supervised by a
powerful lobbyist. The police have now launched an investigation into both
the contents of the recordings, and how they were leaked. More
Education Minister Josef Dobeš resigns “over budget cuts”
The embattled Czech education minister, Josef Dobeš, has announced he will
step down. Mr Dobeš, who has come under severe pressure over a number of
issues including EU funds and his planned university reform, cited further
austerity measures as the reason. But observers point out that the minister
just seized the opportunity to resign before he would be forced out of
office. More
Government renames airport after Havel, but botches translation
After three months of waiting and some sideline debates, the government has
agreed to rename Prague’s international airport after the late president
Václav Havel. While the Havel family and the tens of thousands who asked
for the change are pleased there has finally been some progress, a new
problem has arisen with the English translation of the airport’s name.
Christian Falvey has this report. More
End of an era for Czech Constitutional Court?
The vice-president of the Czech Constitutional Court, and one of its most
distinct judges, Eliška Wagnerová retired on Tuesday as her ten-year term
expired. Dubbed the Queen of Dissent, Justice Wagnerová left a deep mark
on the top Czech court. She was behind some of the court’s crucial
rulings, including that on the EU’s Lisbon treaty, and unwaveringly stood
up to political pressure. Radio Prague asked Prof. Jiří Přibáň from
Cardiff Law School whether her departure marks the end of an era for the
highest court in the land. More
Concert, screening at Prague’s Lucerna to mark day against racism
March 21st is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination and to mark the occasion organisers from Opona, a non-profit
NGO, have helped put together an exhibition, screening and concert to take
place on Wednesday afternoon and evening at Prague’s Lucerna. Several
notable Czech artists, including Ester Kočičková Xindl X, and the Tap
Tap are taking part. More
Police warn investigations will suffer if next year’s budget cuts go through
The police have warned of tremendous impacts if the government’s
wide-ranging budget cuts go ahead. The current plan calls for a cutting a
four billion crown slice from the police budget in 2013 and an additional
two and a half billion the year after that. According to an internal police
risk assessment reported on this week by the daily Právo, those cuts in
practical terms will mean closing a quarter of the country’s police
stations and laying off a corresponding amount of the force, some 10,000
police officers. The report warns that that would leave the police unable
to properly fulfil one of their main tasks – investigations. More
Eggs in short supply following new EU directive on laying hen welfare
In the Czech Republic, egg prices have increased sharply in recent weeks as
a result of a new EU directive that strives to improve conditions in laying
hen farms. Since many farmers have failed to implement the new regulations
in time, eggs are now in short supply in some countries. Some Czech
consumers have even started buying large quantities in neighboring Germany.
How will the situation develop ahead of Easter? More
Pundit: Citizens’ initiative calling for resignation of government indicates a new level of public frustration
Thousands of people gathered for anti-government protests following a call
from the heterogeneous protest group Holešovská výzva, or Holešovská
appeal. Among their main demands is the resignation of the current
government – as well a new law that would introduce automatic referenda.
Analysts say that the demonstrations, which last week were held not only in
Prague, but also in cities across the country, could herald a new era of
escalating public frustration with the government’s policies and harsh
austerity measures. Political pundit Jiří Pehe speaks about the aims of
the new protest movement and its significance. More
New slat armour to be used on additional Czech military vehicles in Afghanistan
Additional transport vehicles used by the Czech military in Afghanistan are
to receive added protection developed by defence firm VOP-026 Šternberk:
cage (or slat) armour capable of defending against rocket-propelled
grenades or shape-charged warheads. Lightweight and made of superior alloy
steel, the slat armour can consistently save lives in attacks that
otherwise almost certainly prove fatal. More
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