Archive: Domestic affairs | Politics Politics
Industry minister resigns amid corruption charges
Prime Minister Petr Nečas accepted the resignation of Industry and Trade
Minister Martin Kocourek on Wednesday evening, the sixth change to the
cabinet in the last year. The resignation was preceded by several days of
corruption allegations against Mr Kocourek and speculation as to the source
of a 16 million crown payment made to the minister’s mother. More
Fresh blow to government’s anti-corruption efforts
The Czech government’s anti-corruption efforts took a beating when the
lower house of Parliament last week watered down its public procurement
bill, leaving a loophole for non-transparent companies to reach public
money. The centre-right cabinet is also fighting an uphill battle against
corruption in its own ranks after reports that Civic Democrat minister
Martin Kocourek’s mother became rich overnight, with no explanation given
by her or her son. More
Government reforms approved by Parliament
After a grueling week-long filibuster in the lower house, the centre-right
coalition government on Sunday pushed a package of key reform bills through
Parliament, overturning a Senate veto, in what has been a long and fierce
battle with the opposition. The bills which will launch an overhaul of the
pension, health care and welfare systems, among others, still need to be
signed by the president and are expected to take effect at the start of
next year. More
President Klaus denies allegations of corrupt presidential pardon
Czech President Václav Klaus has come out strongly against allegations
that the agenda of granting presidential pardons was corrupt. Earlier this
week, the weekly Respekt reported on a pardon that might have been bought
from the president’s office for an ex-police officer who was to serve two
years in jail for corruption. While President Klaus vigorously denied these
claims, the police are looking into the case, and many believe presidential
pardons should be much more transparent. More
Pilot emission of government bonds sells like hot cakes
The government’s offer of state bonds, enabling citizens to invest in the
national debt, has proved hugely successful. After registering orders for
more than 16.5 billion crowns, way over the set 10 billion crown target,
the Finance Ministry terminated all registrations on Friday, three weeks
ahead of the scheduled date. Although public interest surpassed all
expectations, critics say it was a costly and unnecessary transaction. More
Nečas ally appointed Agriculture Minister
The post of agriculture minister was filled this week as abruptly as it was
vacated with Thursday’s appointment of Civic Democrat Petr Bendl. A close
ally of the prime minister, Mr Bendl is an experienced hand in regional and
ministerial leadership, but his ties to agriculture are non-existent. More
Miroslav Kalousek named Finance Minister of the Year for Emerging Europe 2011
Czech Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek has been named “Finance Minister
of the Year for Emerging Europe 2011”, an award presented by the
Washington-based Emerging Markets magazine. The award, given for Mr.
Kalousek’s commitment to consolidating public finances amidst a worsening
global outlook, is seen as confirmation of the Czech government’s prudent
fiscal policy and on picking up the award a beaming Miroslav Kalousek was
quick to promise the nation “more cuts in public spending” in the year
to come. More
Cabinet adopts strategy on fighting Romany exclusion
Amidst social and ethnic unrest in parts of the country caused by growing
tension between the majority population and Romanies, the Czech government
on Wednesday adopted a strategy to combat the social exclusion of the
Romany minority. Over the next four years, the government plans to spend up
to 15 billion crowns on a series of measures ranging from fighting crime to
improving the education of Romany children. More
Government approves 2012 draft budget
The Czech coalition government on Wednesday approved the 2012 draft budget
with one priority in mind – fulfilling its promise to bring the
country’s public finance deficit under control. The projected deficit of
105 billion crowns fulfills that target. It would narrow the gap in public
finances to 3,5 percent of the GDP, but analysts say that the latest growth
predictions for the Czech economy in 2012 will almost certainly throw a
spanner in the works. More
Direct presidential election passed for further debate in lower house
A government proposal seeking direct, popular election of the Czech
president made it through the lower house of Parliament on Tuesday – a
significant success for an idea that lawmakers have dealt with eight times
already. Nevertheless, while the coalition and the opposition may have
reached a rare consensus for the time being, any such change to the
constitution remains fraught by the fact that each party envisions very
different conditions for popular elections, and many pundits and political
scientists see the popular issue as a non-starter. Professor Jiří Pehe of
New York University, for one, tells me the prospect of direct presidential
elections is science fiction. I asked him why. More
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