Topic Archive Domestic affairs
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
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
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
Bárta trial adjourns after an ugly week
The first round of the trial of leading Public Affairs member and former
transport minister Vít Bárta comes to a close on Friday. Over the course
of the week no less than six past and present government ministers have
taken the stand to give testimony in the biggest corruption case in recent
memory, which will be adjourned on Friday while the court goes over the
evidence. More
Trade union group fears that government cuts will weaken stagnant Czech economy
The Czech government is debating continued austerity measures, hoping to
save 23 billion crowns in 2012, 42.4 billion in 2013 and a whopping 84.4
billion in 2014. But the plans have been met with opposition from trade
unions, who are highlighting that the cuts could lead to as many as 24,000
public sector job losses and include layoffs of as many as 17,000 teachers
as well as 3,500 police officers within the next two years. Jaroslav
Zavadil, head of the Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions recently
called this “a path to hell, which will destroy the public sector.” More
Matouš Turek - a member of the “Week of Unrest” student movement
My guest today is 22-year-old Prague history, English and American Studies
student Matouš Turek, who is a member of the “Week of Unrest” student
movement that has been protesting proposed government reforms to the
education system. So Matouš, what exactly are the proposed reforms and
what don’t you like about them? More
De-facto leader of Public Affairs stands trial for corruption
The junior coalition party Public Affairs, which won seats in Parliament on
a strong-anti-corruption agenda, is facing a major test of its credibility.
The party’s de facto leader, former transport minister and present head
of the party’s parliamentary group in the lower house Vít Bárta is
standing trial on charges of corruption. The court hearings which began on
Monday will hear testimony from ministers and MPs and the outcome of the
much anticipated trial could shake the party in its foundations. More
Fate of education reforms unclear after week of student protests
A week of student protests against proposed reforms of the education system
culminated with mass demonstrations around the country on Wednesday. After
a night spent sleeping rough on the floor of university halls and lecture
rooms students and university staff took to the streets to show their
discontent with reforms which they claim will reduce the autonomy of
education institutions, shift the burden of funding to students and put the
academic sphere under the influence of private enterprise and politicians. More
Leading economist on austerity package: public sector still squandering money
The Finance Minister’s austerity plan for 2013, which includes
far-reaching measures to increase state revenues and cut public spending,
has raised an outcry from the opposition benches with the leader of the
opposition Social Democrats Bohuslav Sobotka saying his party would table a
vote of no-confidence in the three-party centre-right coalition. More
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