Archive: Domestic affairs | Politics Politics
Senate approves Zeman’s nominations for Constitutional Court
Czech President Miloš Zeman achieved his first major success in office on
Thursday when his four nominees for judges of the Constitutional Court
sailed smoothly through the Senate. Unlike his predecessor in office, Mr
Zeman was able to reach consensus with senators, averting a potential
paralysis of the top court. More
Top anti-graft cop quits over spat with state attorney
The Czech police’s anti-corruption unit has been relatively visible in
recent times, with operations culminating in charges against two former
ministers. But now the unit’s head has announced he is to quit after a
spat with the high state attorney, who had levelled some damning charges
against his department. More
Former health ministry top official implicated in new corruption scandal
A fresh corruption scandal has erupted on the Czech political scene. The
police have charged a high placed former health ministry official with
breach of trust and abuse of office in connection with a dubious tender for
the operation of the air rescue services. The transfer of the operation
from the defense ministry to two private companies is reported to have
caused the state losses of close to 800 million crowns to date. More
New documentary revisits first Czech direct presidential vote
A new documentary entitled Hledá se prezident (Looking for president)
offers an insight into the first ever direct Czech presidential election
which brought Miloš Zeman to Prague Castle. The behind-the-scenes film,
which has just premiered in Czech cinemas, follows the candidates from the
summer of 2012, when the campaign was just beginning, right up to the
heated run-off vote in January. I spoke to the film’s director, Tomáš
Kudrna, and first asked him about his choice of material that made it to
the final cut. More
Czech cabinet and president in accord over foreign policy priorities
President Miloš Zeman made his first appearance at a meeting of the
centre-right cabinet on Wednesday. The debate, which was seen as a litmus
test of future cooperation between the left-oriented president and the
right-oriented government, went off surprisingly well. More
Three months after sacking of Karolína Peake, General Vlastimil Picek to be named Czech defence minister
Almost three months after the swift sacking of Karolína Peake, the Czech
Republic is finally getting a new minister of defence in the form of career
soldier General Vlastimil Picek. General Picek is currently deputy minister
and has a good deal of experience, having also served as chief of the
general staff of the Czech Army for five years. More
Political analyst: Treason charges against Klaus should have been filed much earlier
The Czech Senate voted on Monday afternoon to file charges of treason
against the outgoing president Václav Klaus. Heads of all of the ruling
coalition parties have expressed disapproval of the move, with the Prime
Minister insinuating that it was a vindictive move from the
opposition-controlled senate. RP asked political analyst Jiří Pehe about
what will be the fallout from the senate's decision. More
Senate to decide whether to press treason charges against outgoing president
Lawmakers in the Czech Senate began deliberations on Monday to decide
whether or not to press treason charges against the country’s president,
Václav Klaus, who steps down in four days’ time. A group of senators
tabled the vote in response to a number of steps taken by Mr Klaus while in
office, including the declaration this year of a highly-controversial
amnesty. More
Motion calling for treason charges against Klaus to be discussed by Senate
A complaint to the Constitutional Court against outgoing president Václav
Klaus is set to be discussed by the Czech Senate. The charge, which accuses
Mr. Klaus of treason over a controversial amnesty he declared at the start
of the year, made the agenda of the upper house when the requisite support
was acquired on Tuesday. Its backers say a ruling would help define the
president’s powers in the future. More
Government moves to cement church restitution deal
On Friday, the Czech government moved to cement a deal on church
restitutions that the opposition Social Democrats are challenging at the
Constitutional Court. Prime Minister Petr Nečas and representatives of 16
churches signed bilateral agreements under which the state will pay them
financial compensation to the tune of 59 billion crowns over a period of 30
years. More
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